JOEL DANIEL PHILLIPS

Loula Williams was a successful African American entrepreneur and community leader in Tulsa, Oklahoma, best known for owning and operating the thriving Dreamland Theatre in the Greenwood District, which was part of "Black Wall Street." Born in the late 19th century, Williams and her husband, John Wesley Williams, moved to Tulsa and became key contributors to the economic and cultural vitality of Greenwood.

The Dreamland Theatre, built in 1914, was one of the largest and most popular Black-owned theaters in the United States at the time. It featured live entertainment, films, and community events, serving as a hub for cultural and social life in Greenwood. In addition to the theater, the Williams family owned several other businesses in Greenwood, including a confectionery, a rooming house, and a garage, symbolizing the economic independence and success of Black entrepreneurs in the district.

Tragically, like many other Black businesses, the Dreamland Theatre was destroyed during the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, a devastating event in which white mobs attacked the Greenwood District, killing hundreds of African Americans and leveling the prosperous community. Despite the loss, Loula Williams' legacy as a resilient businesswoman and community leader remains an important part of Tulsa's history, representing the spirit of Black entrepreneurship and cultural achievement in the face of systemic racism and violence.