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Black Heritage Node
About the node:
Through the Black Heritage Tree Project, this node uplifts trees connected to Black history and cultural memory. The Greenwood Legacy Tree has stood for more than a century and is connected to the story of Greenwood, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, and the community’s long struggle for justice. This node treats trees as living archives. They hold stories that may not be fully captured in monuments, buildings, or written records. By caring for these trees, communities also care for history, memory, and future generations.
Meet the Node Curators: Dr. Alicia Odewale
Black Heritage Tree Project
Dr. Alicia Odewale is an African Diaspora archaeologist and Project Director of the Black Heritage Tree Project. Her work brings together archaeology, public history, cultural landscapes, community storytelling, and tree preservation. The Black Heritage Tree Project’s current focus is the Greenwood Legacy Tree in Tulsa, Oklahoma, an American Elm located in the Historic Greenwood District on the grounds of Carver Middle School.
Current Work
Greenwood Legacy Tree Preservation
This project focuses on protecting and caring for the Greenwood Legacy Tree, an American Elm in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District.
Historic Recognition and Public Storytelling
The project is working to elevate the tree’s story through historic recognition, interpretive signage, and digital storytelling.
Student and Community Engagement
Students and community members will help honor the tree through storytelling, art, educational activities, and a Tree Guardian Program.