Year

1921

2 sourced events from this year.

Events

1921 Timeline

All Years

1921

Civil Rights 20th Century North America

Tulsa Race Massacre Destroys Greenwood District

Tulsa's Greenwood neighborhood had become one of the most prosperous Black communities in the United States by the early 1920s. On May 31 a confrontation at the county courthouse involving a Black teenager accused of assaulting a white woman quickly escalated into armed clashes. White mobs, some deputized by local authorities, invaded Greenwood the following night. They burned homes and businesses, looted property, and killed residents. Estimates of Black fatalities range from dozens to several hundred, with the neighborhood left in ruins. State and local officials largely failed to prosecute perpetrators or provide meaningful reconstruction aid.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1921

Military 20th Century Middle East & North Africa

Spanish Forces Routed at Annual in Rif War

Spain's colonial efforts in northern Morocco faced growing resistance from Rif Berber tribes led by Abd el-Krim in the early 1920s. General Manuel Fernández Silvestre advanced Spanish positions toward the Rif heartland, stretching supply lines thin across rugged terrain. On July 22, 1921, Riffian forces attacked the forward camp at Annual, overwhelming the garrison after earlier setbacks at nearby outposts. The Spanish retreat quickly turned into a disorganized rout as pursuing tribesmen exploited the chaos, leading to heavy casualties over the following days. Silvestre disappeared during the fighting, and Spanish forces lost control of most territory gained since 1909. The disaster became known in Spain as the "Disaster of Annual."

Event Detail US Military Atlas