Greenwood takes center stage in Tulsa

Businesses on Greenwood Avenue were bustling Thursday and leaders of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce said they would like to see them stay that way.

The chamber announced a $ 10 million national campaign called "Rebuild Greenwood" to restore Black Wall Street. Freeman Culver, chamber president, said money raised would help restore 10 historic buildings in the Greenwood District and create an endowment, among other things.

Actor and activist Hill Harper spoke via livestream about his partnership in the project during a news conference on Thursday at ONEOK Field.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who will speak at the Juneteenth celebration, is also part of the collaborative.

Culver and the Rev. Horace Sheffield of Detroit, Michigan, Rebuild Greenwood's national fundraising chairman, said they hoped to meet the campaign's $10 million goal by next year's 100th anniversary of the

Tulsa Race Massacre. They said a Go Fund Me account has been set up at gofundme.com/restoreblackwallstreet.

"We've got to preserve this history not for the sake of telling people what was wrong but reminding people of what is possible," Sheffield said.

Culver agreed.

"We want to reach back to the successes we once had and take this to the next level," he said. "We want to be part of this growth of downtown Tulsa."

In a nod to the coming presidential visit less than a mile away, Culver said he'd like to talk to the Trump Administration about the new campaign. He made the remarks after a reporter asked him if he would like the president to visit the Greenwood District.

"The answer to your question is, 'Yes, Mr. President, we would like you to come and see what we are doing.'"

Several other leaders, including a state senator, previously said it wouldn't be prudent for Trump to visit the district while in Tulsa due to possible road closures and other things that might interfere with planned Juneteenth activities.