Recording artist John Legend will perform at ONEOK Field as part of a nationally televised remembrance ceremony marking the centennial anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, organizers announced Friday morning.
"John Legend is known for his poignant performances and his transformational statements on civil rights for Black Americans," Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission project director Phil Armstrong said in a news release. "'Remember & Rise' is a once-in-a-lifetime event and John Legend’s participation ensures a global audience learns the history of what occurred here 100 years ago, on the streets of the most affluent African American community of the early Twentieth Century."
The commission said the event will be attended by massacre survivors, their descendants, civic leaders from Washington, D.C., and local and national performing artists.
"As a community, we will gather and remember the deadly days of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. We will share examples of how the community rose from those ashes to rebuild while also providing a message of unity and hope for the present and future generations of Black Tulsans, Oklahomans and Americans," Armstrong said.
"John Legend is the first African-American man to achieve 'EGOT' distinction, having earned Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards, Legend is also an active philanthropist and supporter of criminal justice reform," the commission said.
Gates will open at noon on May 31. Admission is free, but tickets are required. More information is available at Tulsa2021.org.
