Executive Director
Atlantic Ventures
The Atlantic
ATTN: Hayley Romer
60 Madison Avenue
6th Floor: The Atlantic
New York, NY 10010
Dear Brad Girson:
I’m writing to you about the Massacre of the black wall street Graphic Novel . I am representing the voice of Dick Rowland .
I , Dick Rowland, was accused of assaulting a white woman. I am here to inform you this ruined my reputation because I am a black male and the information was only one sided .
First I would like to say I was detained and beaten. I was scared and devastated , in the state of Oklahoma police wanted to silence me and thought I should not be heard because I am a black male. And my version of the story should be believed. I have a voice to use .
The whole state accused me of assaulting a white woman and when i tried using my only weapon i had to use was my mouth i was silenced by the police they didn’t bother to hear me or even question . The police just tried to bring the white woman to light . While the police brought the news to light nobody believed me except one person whose name was Dr . Alicia Odewale. Dr. Odewale was an Assistant professor at the University of Tulsa . She was African American so she knew the struggle and how it was to be labeled as a victim without proof and justice ! Dr. Odewale wanted to make a change and I continued to help her .
I would like to question the state of Oklahoma,because even though I am colored I have a voice to use. I want to ask should I be able to speak up for what I believe in?
Sincerely,
Dick Rowland
P.S. I know I’m dead, but I would still appreciate it if you write me back.
I liked how deeply she portrayed the voice of Dick Rowland and how it was to be a black man and not be heard. I also like the connections she made of what the state/ white mobs thought of the situation, and differing theirs from her point of view. I like how she made it more about her point of view(Dick Rowland) but still connected it to how society viewed it and how they were wrong. I also liked how she connected to the person who did believe her. This was very powerful! I also liked the ending when she asked she should be able to speak up about what she believed in because it make me connect back to him not having a voice and how they immediately believed the white woman and did the massacre. And how even though he is black, his voice still matters! And how we as African-American people matter and what we believe in also matters.