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Oklahoma City Chapter: Black Wall Street and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
Thursday, February 25 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST
Please join the Oklahoma City Chapter of the Federal Bar Association for its Virtual CLE – Black Wall Street and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, featuring Hannibal B. Johnson. This program will take place from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 25. Registrants will be provided a Zoom link for the event.
This CLE will focus on the events surrounding the 1921 Tulsa race massacre and destruction of the Greenwood District, also known as Black Well Street. In addition to providing his unique insights into the massacre, attorney Hannibal B. Johnson will bring awareness to the continuing legal ramifications of this racial violence and its impacts on the descendants of those who experienced it directly. Mr. Johnson’s presentation will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Melvin C. Hall.
A portion of the proceeds from this program will be donated to the Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Chair at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and social justice programs at Oklahoma City University School of Law.
About the Speakers
Hannibal B. Johnson
Hannibal B. Johnson is an attorney, author, and independent consultant specializing in diversity & inclusion/cultural competence issues and nonprofit governance. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and The University of Arkansas, where he completed a double major in economics and sociology. Mr. Johnson has also served as an adjunct professor at The University of Tulsa College of Law, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Oklahoma.
Mr. Johnson serves on the federal 400 Years of African-American History Commission, a body charged with planning, developing, and implementing activities appropriate to the 400th anniversary of the arrival, in 1619, of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia. He chairs the Education Committee for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. His books include: Images of America: Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District; Black Wall Street–From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District; Up From the Ashes—A Story About Community; Acres of Aspiration—The All-Black Towns in Oklahoma; Mama Used To Say—Wit & Wisdom From The Heart & Soul; No Place Like Home—A Story About an All-Black, All-American Town; and IncogNegro—Poetic Reflections on Race & Diversity in America.
Mr. Johnson’s honors include: the 2021 Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book; the 2020 Entrepreneurial Success Award from the Tulsa Regional Chamber; the 2019 Community Development Partner of the Year Award from the Tulsa Regional Chamber; the 2016 Whitney M. Young, Jr., Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America; the 2015 National Philanthropy Day Award for Diversity and Inclusion from the Association of Fundraising Professionals; the 2013 “The Inclusives” diversity award from Tulsa’s Young Professionals; the 2012 “Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Diversity Award” from the Oklahoma Bar Association; the “Don Newby/Ben Hill” award from Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry; the “Keeping The Dream Alive” award from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Society; the “Outstanding Service to the Public Award” from the Oklahoma Bar Association; the “Ten Outstanding Young Tulsans” award from the Tulsa Jaycees; the “Distinguished Leadership Award” from the National Association for Community Leadership; the 2005 “Ralph Ellison Literary Award” from the Black Liberated Arts Center; the 2006 Oklahoma Human Rights Award from the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission; induction into the 100 Black Men of Tulsa, Inc. “Hall of Honor” in 2007; and the “Goodwill Appreciation Award” from the Islamic Society of Tulsa in 2008.
Melvin C. Hall
Melvin C. Hall is an attorney with Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis. After an eight-year public service career with the Cleveland County District Attorney’s Office (1980-1983) and as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission (1983-1987), Melvin joined the Riggs, Abney January 1, 1988. He was elected shareholder partner on January 1, 1992. Since joining the firm, Melvin has focused his practice on civil litigation of matters relating to employment law, business and commercial law, and civil rights law. Melvin has tried cases before administrative tribunals, in state district courts and in each of the three U.S. District Courts of Oklahoma. He has also argued several cases before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado.
In addition to his law practice, Melvin is a nationally sought-after speaker and lecturer on employment law and civil rights issues. He is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma teaching classes regarding employment law and the civil rights movement. Melvin was a featured speaker at the 2018 Office of Civil Rights Enforcement Employment Law Conference and the Guide to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Principals and Litigation Conference. Both conferences were held in Oklahoma City.
Melvin also presented at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE) conference in New Orleans in 2018. Melvin has served on numerous boards and commissions such as a seven year term as a regent on the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents from 1992 through 1999. Currently, Melvin serves on the LegalShield Board of Directors, the Arvest Bank Board of Directors, the Executive Committee of the Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies, the Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) Board of Advocates, the Board of Visitors of the University of Oklahoma College of Law, and the Oklahoma Innocence Project Advisory Board.
Melvin is an AV rated attorney who has received numerous awards, honors and appointments. In 2019 Melvin was presented with the Oklahoma City Association of Black Lawyers, Opio Toure Champion of Justice Award. In 2017, Melvin was presented with the Spirit of the Community Award from the Fairview Missionary Baptist Church, and in 2013 he received the Oklahoma Bar Association Diversity Committee’s Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Diversity Award. Melvin received his Bachelor of Arts in Education degree from Langston University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Both Langston University and the University of Oklahoma annually award scholarships that are named in honor of Melvin C. Hall.
CLE
1.0 Hours of Oklahoma CLE Credit Anticipated
Registration
Registration Fees
Registration for this event will close February 23. Registrants will be provided a Zoom link for each session.
- FBA Student Members – $0
- FBA Members – $30
- Government Employees – $20
- Non-FBA Members – $50
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact Jake Krattiger at okcfedbar@gmail.com.