Speaking
As a National Geographic Explorer, I have been re-examining historical and archaeological evidence in Greenwood—focusing not on the Tulsa Race Massacre itself, but instead on the community’s rebuilding and recovery in its aftermath. As part of a collaborative research project, “Mapping Historical Trauma in Tulsa from 1921-2021,” we are just beginning to unearth and map the evidence of Black community resilience over the course of 100 years. Since the Centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in 2021, I have served as a speaker for National Geographic Live. Our NGL show “Greenwood a Century of Resilience” offers a platform to continue the discussion of our history beyond the centennial year and bring more awareness to the story of Greenwood’s resilience through time beyond the Tulsa Race Massacre. And in 2022 in partnership with Disney on the Yard and HBCUs across the country, we also launched “Greenwood Raised Me”, a show designed specifically with students in mind and explores more of my own journey to becoming a Black archaeologist and a National Geographic Explorer in the midst of re-telling this story of resilience from the heart of Black Wall Street. Reaching beyond the classroom in this way offers a unique chance to uncover the impacts of racism and racial violence in America through the lens of a community that continues to survive against all odds. I am especially grateful for this platform to be able to share our work and my own family story with audiences around the world.
The tour dates that have been scheduled so far are as follows…
Stanford, CA Stanford University November 10, 2021
Mesa, AZ Mesa Arts Center January 19-20, 2022
The Villages, FL The Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center February 2 – 3, 2022
Stillwater, OK McKnight Center for the Performing Arts February 24, 2022
Irvine, CA The Irvine Barclay Theatre March 13, 2022
Eugene, OR The Hult Center for the Performing Arts March 28, 2022
Portland, OR Portland’5 Centers for the Arts March 29, 2022
Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall May 1-3, 2022
Milwaukee, WI Marcus Performing Arts Center May 25-26, 2022
Grass Valley, CA Center for the Arts September 21-22, 2022
Grambling, LA Grambling State University October 10, 2022
Pittsburg, PA Pittsburg Playhouse October 21, 2022
Tulsa, OK The University of Tulsa October 25, 2022
Kalispell, MT Wachholz College Center November 17, 2022
Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University January 29, 2023
Houston, TX Texas Southern University February 6, 2022
Benton Harbor, MI The Mendel Center February 10, 2023
Denver, CO The Newman Center March 20, 2023
Fort Collins, CO The Lincoln Center April 6, 2023
Tampa, FL Straz Center May 23, 2023
This fall signals the start of a new speaker series centering resilience, in which the planet’s leading storytellers have come together to share stories of resilience around the world. For more updates about the National Geographic Live speaker series check out their website at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/events/.
