The oil and natural gas boom in pre–World War I Oklahoma brought wealth to tribal citizens, but also made them targets of unscrupulous individuals. The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 and the Osage Murders between 1921 and 1925 were two of the most heinous episodes of racial violence in the state's history. Joshua Clough's book Resisting Oklahomas Reign of Terror details the responses of the Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI) to the violence and pillaging of tribal resources during the 1920s. The SOI was a largely forgotten Native organization that shared values of intertribal unity, Native suffrage, and protection of Native property. Clough reveals why reform efforts were nearly impossible in 1920s Oklahoma and how this historical perspective informs today's conflicts between the state and its Indigenous inhabitants.

Format: Hardback
Length: 354 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2024
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

The oil and natural gas boom in pre–World War I Oklahoma brought unbelievable wealth to thousands of tribal citizens in the state on whose lands these minerals were discovered. However, as Angie Debo recognizes in her seminal study of the period, And Still the Waters Run, and, more recently, as David Grann does in Killers of the Flower Moon, this affluence placed Natives in the crosshairs of unscrupulous individuals. As a result, this era was also marked by two of the most heinous episodes of racial violence in the state's history: the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 and the Osage Murders between 1921 and 1925. In Resisting Oklahomas Reign of Terror, Joshua Clough details the responses of one largely forgotten Native organization—the Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI)—to the violence and pillaging of tribal resources during the 1920s. Clough provides historical understanding of its formation and its shared values of intertribal unity, Native suffrage, and protection of Native property. He also reveals why reform efforts were nearly impossible in 1920s Oklahoma and how this historical perspective informs today's conflicts between the state and its Indigenous inhabitants. Through this examination of the SOI, Clough fills the historiographic gap regarding formal Native resistance between the dissolution of the national Society of American Indians in 1923 and the formation of the National Congress of American Indians in 1944. Dismissed or overlooked for a century as an inconsequential Native activist organization, the history of the SOI, when examined carefully, reveals the sophistication and determination of tribal members in their struggle to prevent depredations on their persons and property.

Oil and Natural Gas Boom in Pre–World War I Oklahoma

The oil and natural gas boom in pre–World War I Oklahoma brought unbelievable wealth to thousands of tribal citizens in the state on whose lands these minerals were discovered. However, as Angie Debo recognizes in her seminal study of the period, And Still the Waters Run, and, more recently, as David Grann does in Killers of the Flower Moon, this affluence placed Natives in the crosshairs of unscrupulous individuals. As a result, this era was also marked by two of the most heinous episodes of racial violence in the state's history: the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 and the Osage Murders between 1921 and 1925.

The Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI)

Joshua Clough details the responses of one largely forgotten Native organization—the Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI)—to the violence and pillaging of tribal resources during the 1920s. Clough provides historical understanding of its formation and its shared values of intertribal unity, Native suffrage, and protection of Native property. He also reveals why reform efforts were nearly impossible in 1920s Oklahoma and how this historical perspective informs today's conflicts between the state and its Indigenous inhabitants.

Resisting Oklahomas Reign of Terror

In Resisting Oklahomas Reign of Terror, Joshua Clough details the responses of one largely forgotten Native organization—the Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI)—to the violence and pillaging of tribal resources during the 1920s. Clough provides historical understanding of its formation and its shared values of intertribal unity, Native suffrage, and protection of Native property. He also reveals why reform efforts were nearly impossible in 1920s Oklahoma and how this historical perspective informs today's conflicts between the state and its Indigenous inhabitants.

The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921

The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 was a horrific event that took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 31 and June 1, 1921. It was one of the most violent episodes of racial violence in American history, and it resulted in the deaths of hundreds of African Americans and the destruction of a thriving African American community. The massacre was sparked by a false rumor that a black man had attacked a white woman, and it quickly escalated into a full-scale riot that lasted for two days. The violence was perpetrated by a white mob, and it included looting, arson, and murder. The massacre had a profound impact on the city of Tulsa and the surrounding area, and it contributed to the decline of the African American community in the region.

The Osage Murders of 1921-1925

The Osage Murders of 1921-1925 were a series of murders that took place in the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. The murders were carried out by a group of white men who were seeking to gain control of the Osage mineral rights. The murders were particularly brutal, and they included the killing of several members of the Osage family, including the heir to the Osage throne. The murders were eventually solved by the FBI, and the perpetrators were convicted and sentenced to death. The murders had a profound impact on the Osage Nation and the surrounding area, and they contributed to the decline of the Osage population.

The Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI)

The Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI) was a Native American organization that was founded in 1918. The organization was formed in response to the violence and pillaging of tribal resources during the 1920s. The SOI's shared values of intertribal unity, Native suffrage, and protection of Native property were central to its mission. The organization was led by a group of prominent Native leaders, including Charles Curtis, the former governor of Kansas, and Charles Curtis, the former governor of Kansas. The SOI's efforts to address the violence and pillaging of tribal resources were largely unsuccessful, however, due to the resistance of the state government and the federal government. The SOI's efforts to gain federal recognition as a Native American tribe were also unsuccessful, and the organization eventually disbanded in 1925.

Joshua Clough's Resisting Oklahomas Reign of Terror

Joshua Clough's Resisting Oklahomas Reign of Terror is a book that details the responses of the Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI) to the violence and pillaging of tribal resources during the 1920s. Clough provides historical understanding of the SOI's formation and its shared values, and he also reveals why reform efforts were nearly impossible in 1920s Oklahoma. Clough's book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of Native American resistance to oppression and exploitation.

The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921

The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 was a horrific event that took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 31 and June 1, 1921. It was one of the most violent episodes of racial violence in American history, and it resulted in the deaths of hundreds of African Americans and the destruction of a thriving African American community. The massacre was sparked by a false rumor that a black man had attacked a white woman, and it quickly escalated into a full-scale riot that lasted for two days. The violence was perpetrated by a white mob, and it included looting, arson, and murder. The massacre had a profound impact on the city of Tulsa and the surrounding area, and it contributed to the decline of the African American community in the region.

The Osage Murders of 1921-1925

The Osage Murders of 1921-1925 were a series of murders that took place in the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. The murders were carried out by a group of white men who were seeking to gain control of the Osage mineral rights. The murders were particularly brutal, and they included the killing of several members of the Osage family, including the heir to the Osage throne. The murders were eventually solved by the FBI, and the perpetrators were convicted and sentenced to death. The murders had a profound impact on the Osage Nation and the surrounding area, and they contributed to the decline of the Osage population.

The Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI)

The Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI) was a Native American organization that was founded in 1918. The organization was formed in response to the violence and pillaging of tribal resources during the 1920s. The SOI's shared values of intertribal unity, Native suffrage, and protection of Native property were central to its mission. The organization was led by a group of prominent Native leaders, including Charles Curtis, the former governor of Kansas, and Charles Curtis, the former governor of Kansas. The SOI's efforts to address the violence and pillaging of tribal resources were largely unsuccessful, however, due to the resistance of the state government and the federal government. The SOI's efforts to gain federal recognition as a Native American tribe were also unsuccessful, and the organization eventually disbanded in 1925.

Joshua Clough's Resisting Oklahomas Reign of Terror

Joshua Clough's Resisting Oklahomas Reign of Terror is a book that details the responses of the Society of Oklahoma Indians (SOI) to the violence and pillaging of tribal resources during the 1920s. Clough provides historical understanding of the SOI's formation and its shared values, and he also reveals why reform efforts were nearly impossible in 1920s Oklahoma. Clough's book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of Native American resistance to oppression and exploitation.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496238504