Cox Supports Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Project

Cox is commemorating the 100th anniversary of what is believed to be the single worst episode of racial violence in American history, with a special donation, educational campaign and speaker event to help recreate the stories.

On May 31,1921, the Tulsa Race Massacre left an estimated 300 Black residents dead, and destroyed a community of educated, affluent and professional African Americans, leaving many homeless. Mobs of white residents, many armed and deputized by city officials, attacked Black residents and businesses in the thriving Greenwood District also knows as “Black Wall Street.”

“Cox is honored to help commemorate the centennial and foster a better understanding of the Tulsa Race Massacre that occurred in one of the most prosperous and vibrant African American communities in our history,” said Tiffanie McDonald, Cox Enterprises vice president of inclusion and diversity.

“I heard someone say, ‘Injustice plus time doesn’t equal justice.’ I found it to be such a powerful statement of the importance of understanding history and long-term impacts,” McDonald said. “At Cox, we are committed to building a better future that values human rights, equality, and justice. It takes all of us working together to drive the change we want to see.”

Cox Communications donated funds to help build an immersive augmented reality (AR) mobile app that will recreate the Greenwood District before the 1921 violence.

The app will guide visitors as they walk the blocks of Greenwood and will deliver a cinematic experience of its vanished places and people. People will learn more about Black pioneers such as Dr. A.C. Jackson, a renowned surgeon who was shot during the massacre.

“After decades of silence about our history, residents and visitors from all over the world will get a chance to learn about and experience the heart and soul of Greenwood — a cultural mecca of resilience and racial healing,” said Oklahoma State Senator Kevin Matthews, chair and founder of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, which is also hosting memorials. “This project is a state-of-the-art gift to the world.”   

“We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to make history even more real with our sponsorship of the virtual walking tour app,” said Roger Ramseyer, Cox Communications vice president and Tulsa market leader. “By making history come alive visually, it’s our hope that all visitors will gain a better understanding of the events of 1921 and be even more motivated to ensure history does not repeat itself as our community strives to move forward with a culture of respect and economic prosperity for all.”  

Cox is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through technology. The largest private broadband company in America, Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises.