The 18 Hours That Burned Black Wall Street to the Ground

The 18 Hours That Burned Black Wall Street to the Ground

Author: Darren Marlar | Weird Darkness | Full-Time Voice Actor April 23, 2026 Duration: 19:40
In 1921, the thriving Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was turned to ashes in one of the deadliest and most deliberately buried acts of racial violence in American history.

FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Greenwood Avenue featured luxury shops, restaurants, movie theaters, a library, pool halls and nightclubs… until late May and early June of 1921. Then a brutal race riot took place in thissuburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Which is tragically ironic, watching the news and seeing what is happening all over the USA today. You could almost think that nothing has changed. We’ll look at what happened in Greenwood, Oklahoma over 100 years ago.

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*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

SOURCES and RESOURCES:
BOOK: “Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District” by Hannibal Johnson: https://amzn.to/2ABwQ69
“The Greenwood Race Massacre” from Alexis Clark: https://tinyurl.com/qkb6cs7, and the editors at History.com: https://tinyurl.com/yxpzw2cc
(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
Originally aired: June 02, 2020

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources and full transcript): https://weirddarkness.com/Greenwood

Step into the shadows with Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories, where professional voice actor Darren Marlar brings a chilling depth to narratives often left untold. This award-winning daily podcast explores the intricate tapestry of human experience and mystery, weaving together documented history, cultural folklore, and unsettling true crime. Each episode is a deep dive into the unexplained, from long-forgotten legends and supernatural encounters to meticulously researched accounts of dark deeds and unsolved conspiracies. Marlar’s skill as a storyteller, recognized by industry voices like the Podcast Business Journal, transforms these accounts into immersive audio experiences, allowing the strange and the macabre to feel vividly real. The consistent seven-day-a-week schedule means there’s always a new story waiting, a fresh journey into the corners of society and documentary evidence that most prefer to avoid. This isn't just a collection of scary stories; it's a persistent exploration of the questions that linger at the edges of our understanding, all delivered with a compelling vocal performance that has defined the distinctive atmosphere of this podcast. You'll find the lines between history, mystery, and the purely paranatural blurring as you listen, making Weird Darkness a unique destination for those drawn to the darker side of reality.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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