National Symposium a Success! 

“Reconciliation in America: Moving Beyond Racial Violence”

June 2-4, 2010       Tulsa, Oklahoma 

Click here to see photographs from the symposium

The John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation hosted its inaugural national symposium, “Reconciliation in America: Moving Beyond Racial Violence.”

The symposium explored the current academic research and community projects that address the American history of racial violence, with special emphasis on race riots and sundown towns, with a view towards achieving reconciliation.

The John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation seeks to transform society’s divisions into social harmony through the serious study and work of reconciliation. This symposium highlighted the study of communities once ravaged by racial violence and practices that foster hope and healing.

Convening scholars and practitioners, the Center facilitated a dialogue among those who work to bridge societal divides. Sessions will fall into two categories:

• Current Research in race relations and reconciliation – Important scholarly work continues to emerge on the historical implications of race in America.  One of the less chronicled aspects of the color line in America are the so-called “race riots  and sundown towns that proliferated in the early 20^th century. The symposium, intentionally scheduled near the 89^th anniversary of the devastating 1921 Tulsa Race Riot (May 31-June 1, 1921), will include papers reflecting the latest research on American racial violence, its historic and lingering effects on society, and the power of and potential for reconciliation.

• Focus on Progress in race relations and reconciliation. Community reports on national and international racial reconciliation offer us hope. These sessions will address the practical question – What can we do now? Tulsa’s new Reconciliation Park and the various projects initiated by the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation constitute  Tulsa’s answer to that question. Tulsa has begun to acknowledge its own tragedy and take steps to repair the deep divisions it left.

A Town Hall focused on issues for Tulsa and the John Hope Franklin Center.

Symposium partners included the Organization of American Historians, the Oklahoma Humanities Council, the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of African American History & Culture, The Organization of American Historians, The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, The Maxine and Jack Zarrow Foundation, The University of Tulsa, MATRIX Architects Engineers Planners, Inc., The University of Oklahoma- Tulsa, the OU College of Liberal Studies, Oklahoma State University – Tulsa, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa Community College, ChooseTulsaJobs.com, Tulsa Metro Chamber, The Cuesta Foundation, Philbrook Museum of Art, Mary Athens, Lee Clark Johns, Michael and Libby Johnson, John Gaberino, Tulsa PAC Trust, The Greenwood Community Development Corporation and private donors.

“This program is funded in part by the Oklahoma Humanities Council (OHC) and the We the People initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the symposium do not necessarily represent those of OHC or NEH.”