Scan barcode
Reviews
Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert
suebrownreads's review against another edition
4.0
A short and concise history of the black codes and Jim Crow in America with a focus on the history of Oklahoma beginnings and specifically Tulsa. Although I knew that some of the Cherokee owned slaves, I had no idea they took 4000 slaves with them to the Oklahoma Territory, nor was I aware of the attempted escape to Mexico of many of the slaves of the Cherokee and of other tribes as well. The author's research was comprehensive and Tulsa Race Riot was covered well. Very well done!
danileighta's review
5.0
An excellent and essential account of the much ignored Tulsa race massacre. Please read!
_cyndieee_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
breakfastgrey's review
1.0
The Tulsa massacre deserves a better book than this. Colbert’s account forces historical events through a modern narrative lens with problematic results. There is far too much generalizing, reporting of rumors (even if they are stated as such), and reliance on that ever nebulous and never cited group of “some historians.” Furthermore, the titular events are forced into the back quarter of the book and given little to no depth or examination as the majority of the book focuses on a heavily tangential history of race in Oklahoma, featuring frequent detours and some historical cherry picking. This is a heartbreaking event and something that we all should be reading more about, but this book is not the place to do it.