12/25/2025
Merry Christmas from Greenwood Rising!
Today, we celebrate a remarkable man whose vision shaped history—Ottawa (O.W.) Gurley, born on December 25, 1867, to Roseanna and John Gurley, who were formerly enslaved. Gurley’s journey took him from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Oklahoma, where he participated in the 1893 Oklahoma Land Run and later established himself as a community leader in Perry, Oklahoma.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Gurley resigned from a presidential appointment under President Grover Cleveland to pursue opportunities in Oklahoma. In 1905, he moved to Tulsa and purchased forty acres of land, selling it exclusively to Black settlers. There, he built a grocery store at the corner of Archer Street and Greenwood Avenue—the foundation of the Greenwood District, famously known as Black Wall Street.
But Gurley was more than a businessman. He helped build community infrastructure, founding Vernon AME Church, contributing to a Masonic Lodge, and starting an employment agency to help new residents find work. To maintain order in Greenwood, he was even appointed as a sheriff’s deputy, a rare and notable position at the time. Gurley also provided loans to other Black entrepreneurs, helping the entire district grow and thrive.
Though his businesses were tragically destroyed during the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, Gurley’s legacy endures—a testament to resilience, entrepreneurship, and the power of community.
This Christmas, as we celebrate joy and giving, we honor O.W. Gurley’s birthday and his lasting impact on Black history and American history alike.
