OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race massacre. FD Moon Middle School students learn in a unique way from the devastation in Tulsa.
They started their own businesses to honor Black Wall Street.
John Legend directs the “Rise & Remember” event to honor the victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre
On Friday, the school held a pop-up shop so the entire school could see the finished products.
Each storefront was created by 6th grade students.
“They’re more creative than we think,” said 6th grade English teacher Debra Bell.
The projects started out as a pure PowerPoint presentation, but they grew into boutiques, restaurants, and even a paint shop.
Each storefront represents a student learning to be their boss.
“Now that you have time to really focus on something, you’ve learned new passions and a new mission in life,” said Morgan Perkins, 6th grade teacher.
There is also a deeper lesson under the crafts and fun.
The kids learn how to honor Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre.
“I’ve never seen justice,” say survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre tales of chaos and horror
“A lot of them were shocked to find out what happened and how close it is and they didn’t know about it,” said Bell.
You will learn about the history, culture, successes and devastation.
“Make it clear to you that we have roots in which we have been successful. We were a community. I want you to know and understand that, ”said Perkins.
After their colleagues voted for their favorite projects, they presented their business proposals to a group of judges.
Perkins calls it the middle school version of “Shark Tank”.
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Just because the competition is over doesn’t mean the students are their businesses.
“We had investors, we had parents who were going to create LLCs for some of these students,” Perkins said.
The employees say that the knowledge gained will go on for generations.
“Exposure is everything to me, knowledge is really power,” said Bell.
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