Black Wall Street By Randi Pink: A Literary Analysis

Have you ever read an article and wondered if it was true? Have you ever wondered how to back up the data in an article? Have you ever read an article and it was something completely different then the facts you learned about? Did you ever read something and question if it was the truth? This is just like when you read a novel and question if the author is telling the truth. Regarding historical names, places, and events, Randi Pink accurately portrays them in her novel Angel of Greenwood.

One major thing that Randi Pink clearly portrays in her novel is Black Wall Street and how it came to be. The first example in the novel is that Randi Pink states “Black, brilliant, self-sustaining Greenwood Avenue was proof that Booker T. Washington was

He’d called it “Negro Main Street,” which was in all ways apropos.(32 Pink). Another thing in the book that illustrates Black Wall Street is One thing Booker Washington was right about was Greenwood. He’d called it the Negro Wall Street of America. A mecca. A beacon of hope for his people and Isaiah was blessed enough to live there every day of his life” (185 Pink). Research states “Washington visited Greenwood on his way to speak in the all-Black town of Boley, Okla. Impressed by the growth and success of Greenwood, he called it “the Negro Wall Street of America,” which evolved into “the Black Wall Street” during the civil rights movement”(“Tulsa Library” 1). According to “Britannica”, “ Black Wall Street, former name of the Greenwood neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where in the early 20th century African Americans had created a self-sufficient prosperous business district. The term Black Wall Street was used until the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. The name has also been applied more generally to districts of Black American high economic activity” (“Britannica” 1). Pink outlines the origins of the name Black Wall Street and its significance in her book. This in-depth discussion of Randi Pink's

In the novel it illustrates, “But their brief beam of hope was darkened by the sound of the bomb dropping atop the Mount. Isaiah couldn’t tell the difference between sunrise and Mount Zion exploding” (274 Pink). Historic Wings states “Mount Zion Baptist Church burns after seeing its roof set afire from the attacking biplanes. They targeted the neighborhoods, business district, and the Mount Zion Baptist Church. Mainly, they aimed for the flat rooftops of the buildings. Once the supply of firebombs was exhausted, those planes that carried “observers” armed with rifles made low passes over the Greenwood District. The Mount Zion Baptist Church caught fire after a hail of well-placed firebombs” (“Historic Wings” 1). Randi Pink makes it very clear in her novel how bad the destruction was of the Tulsa Race Massacre. She portrays these events perfectly and speaks the truth the whole time. The Tulsa Massacre was one of the worst in the United States. It caused major damage and burned down important businesses and churches. Pink states “The other men looked around to see only ashes in the distance. No buildings left standing or homes to gather in for shelter” (229 Pink). The novel also explains “ Stacked head to foot, burning away into unexpected ash. She pedaled faster, passing more destruction than she ever knew could exist” (254 Pink). One Michigan states “The entire 35 blocks of the