Black Wall Street Firefighters Ball honors Tulsa first Black firefighters
The Black Wall Street Firefighters Ball in Tulsa honored the city's first six Black firefighters, celebrating their service and raising scholarship funds.
A group held an event in Tulsa to remember the dedication of early emergency workers. The gathering honored the city’s first six Black firefighters to conclude Fire Prevention Week. The celebration recognized their service and the barriers they faced.
The event took place on Saturday night. It ended around midnight.
Attendees watched a preview of the film titled “Fighting More Than a Fire.” The film pays tribute to the firemen.
Retired Tulsa Fire Lt. Donald Stephens spoke about the importance of their history. He noted the path paved for future generations.
“When carrying that legacy, you want to tellthe community the legacy of these first firemen, the barriers they had to go through and the doors they opened,” Stephens said. “We stand on the shoulders of everyone who came behind us and that was one of the main reasons to and again to make it a purpose and educate the community about the role that we played in this community and also doing the scholarship is another added thing.”
The event also included a scholarship opportunity. Organizers partnered with local nonprofit A Pocket Full of Hope in Tulsa to offer the award.
Dr. Lester Shaw serves as the executive director for the nonprofit group. He discussed the power of unity.
“For the community to come together is just an amazing opportunity because if one person can do a little, then it will be a collaborative effort for those involved,” Shaw said.
Fire Prevention Week is an annual public safety campaign. Organizations often host educational gatherings to share safety practices and preserve civic history.
The Tulsa gathering focused on remembering local history and helping students.
