# Understanding the Black Wall Street National Monument Bill

This bill creates a new national monument in Tulsa, Oklahoma dedicated to preserving the history of the Greenwood District, also known as Black Wall Street, and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The Greenwood District was once a thriving African American business community that was destroyed during the massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history. By establishing this as a national monument, the federal government would officially recognize and protect this important historical site, similar to how other national monuments preserve significant American history.

The monument would be managed by the National Park Service, the same agency that runs places like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. The bill emphasizes that private property owners within the monument area won't be forced to sell their land or change how they use their properties—whether they're homes, churches, or businesses. The government can only acquire land from willing sellers or through donations. This protects current residents and business owners from unwanted government takeover of their property.

A key part of the bill creates an advisory commission with eleven members, seven of whom must be descendants of people who lived in or worked in the Greenwood District during the 1921 massacre. This ensures that descendants of the community have a strong voice in how the monument is developed and managed. The commission will advise on everything from visitor facilities to how the site's history is interpreted and presented to the public. The bill also requires the Park Service to create a management plan within three years that will guide how the monument operates going forward, and this plan must involve input from descendants and community members.