JOEL DANIEL PHILLIPS

Andrew J. Smitherman (1883–1961) was a significant African American journalist, editor, and civic leader in Tulsa, Oklahoma, best known for founding and publishing the Tulsa Star, a pioneering Black-owned newspaper. Born in Alabama, Smitherman developed a passion for journalism and advocacy early in life, eventually moving to Tulsa in 1913, where he became a leading voice for the Black community.

Smitherman's Tulsa Star was a powerful advocate for civil rights, racial justice, and economic independence for African Americans. The newspaper covered local and national events, provided legal advice, and promoted Black-owned businesses in the Greenwood District, known as "Black Wall Street." Through his editorials, Smitherman encouraged African Americans to stand up for their rights, defend themselves against racism, and foster economic self-sufficiency.

During the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, the Tulsa Star office was destroyed, and Smitherman, facing false accusations of inciting violence, fled Tulsa to escape arrest. He and his family relocated to Buffalo, New York, where he continued his journalism career and civic activism, though he never returned to Tulsa. Despite the destruction of his newspaper and the forced exile, Smitherman's influence as a journalist and leader left a lasting legacy in Tulsa's Black community.

Smitherman's efforts to inform and empower African Americans through journalism contributed significantly to the development of Greenwood and helped sustain the spirit of resilience within the community, even in the face of devastation.