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‘Black Wall Street,’ Dramatic Production, Coming To Tampa
In the early 1900s, the Greenwood community of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a thriving predominantly African American neighborhood with 600 businesses and about 10,000 resi- dents. The area’s business district was nicknamed “Black Wall Street’’ be- cause of its successful Black enter- prises.
But in 1921, the bustling commu- nity became the scene of one of the most horrific incidents of racial vio- lence in the United States.
A stage play about Black Wall Street and the race riot will be show- cased in Tampa as part of the June- teenth Festival sponsored annually by the Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan, Inc. (THAPgroup).
The Black Wall Street Experience & Expo, scheduled for June 14 and 15, is being presented by the THAPgroup, THAP 5508 CoWorking & Collabora- tion Exchange, Tampa Bay Black Her- itage Festival, and All City Productions.
The play, written by Florida play- wright Hattie Balbuena, chroni- cles how the wealthiest and most successful Black community of the 20th century began, how it thrived, how it was destroyed, and how survivors re- built it despite great odds.
During the Tulsa race riot, which
HATTIE BALBEUNA ...Florida Playwright
occurred over 18 hours on May 31- June 1, white mobs attacked residents, killing hundreds of Black men, women and children. The attack on the com- munity led to the destruction of 36 blocks of prosperous businesses and beautiful homes owned by African Americans in Greenwood.
There will be three presentations of the stage play during the Black Wall Street Experience & Expo, which will be held at 5508 N. 50th St., Tampa.
On Friday, June 14, an Evening Mixer & Dinner Social will take place
The Cast of ‘Black Wall Street,’ which will be coming to Tampa soon.
at 6 p. m., followed by the showing of the “Black Wall Street’’ play at 8 p. m. The cost is $65 per person and $120 per couple.
On Saturday, June 15, an Entrepre- neurship and Real Estate forum, which includes breakfast, is planned for 9 a. m. to 11 a. m. The cost is $12 per ticket
and $95 for a table of eight.
The Business Expo is scheduled
from11a.m.to2p.m.,onJune 15. Wells Fargo is the title sponsor of the expo. A showing of the play is set for 2 p.m. ($10 in advance and $15 at the door) and 7 p. m. ($20 in advance and $25 at the door).
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