TV networks will recognize the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre with several documentaries that reflect on one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history. 

Cable and broadcast networks such as CNN, History, National Geographic and PBS will debut over the next few weeks documentaries and specials that document the events surrounding the 1921 massacre, in which a white mob burned down a wealthy Black-owned stretch of businesses and homes in the Greenwood section of Tulsa. As many as 300 Black people were killed and more than 1,200 Black-owned homes and businesses were destroyed during the two-day massacre, which has  mostly been ignored by historians until recently. 

DeNeen Brown, Washington Post writer whose reporting is at the center of National Geographic’s Rise Again: Tulsa and Red Summer and PBS’ Fire and Forgotten documentaries, says the massacre’s depiction through such scripted series as HBO’s Lovecraft Country and Watchman has helped bring attention to the massacre. As more people become aware of the tragedy -- and as the country continues to discuss issues revolving around race and inequality in the wake of the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death -- the more they want to know more about it. 

"I think the reason we’re seeing so much media interest around the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is that it is one of the worst incidents of racial terror violence committed against Black people in U.S. history," Brown said. "For nearly 100 years, the massacre was deliberately covered up, kept out of textbooks and erased from history. Historians told me that for almost a century, civic and city officials in Tulsa orchestrated a deliberate campaign of silence."

The documentaries have also attracted such celebrities as NBA All-Stars LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, who serve as executive producers of CNN’s Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street and History’s Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, respectively. 

Read Also: Programming Review: History's 'Tulsa Massacre' Spotlights a Forgotten Tragedy

Below is a partial list and premiere dates of documentary chronicling the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre:

May 30 -- Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre -- History 

May 31 -- Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street -- CNN

May 31 -- Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten -- PBS

June 1 -- The Legacy of Black Wall Street -- OWN

June 18 -- Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer -- National Geographic

History has set a May 30 premiere date for its new documentary Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, the network said Monday.

The two-hour documentary, produced by NBA star Russell Westbrook, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, in which one of the most prosperous African American communities in the United States was burned to the ground, said the network. 

In support of the documentary, History is partnering with WNYC Studios to launch a new six-part podcast series Blindspot: Tulsa Burning on May 28. In addition, History will help to preserve the Historic Vernon A.M.E. Church, the only standing Black-owned structure from the Historic Greenwood Avenue and Black Wall Street era, as part of the network’s “Save Our History” philanthropic initiative.

History is also joining the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation, WME, RedFlight Innovation and Values Partnerships to create an educational and experiential initiative which will provide Tulsa-area students with cutting-edge STEAM kits focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. Digital versions of the curriculum will also be available for students nationwide, according to History.

TNT heads into its coverage of the NBA All-Star weekend festivities in New Orleans looking to build some ratings momentum heading into the NBA playoffs push. TNT’s  NBA live game coverage -- which includes exclusive Thursday night doubleheader games and a new package of Monday night NBA telecasts -- is averaging 1.7 million viewers thus far this season, on par with last year’s performance.

I caught up with Turner president David Levy prior to his departure to New Orleans to discuss the state of the league going into the All-Star break, as well as the prospects for a strong TNT ratings performance during the second-half of the NBA season.  

MCN: How has the NBA on TNT performed thus far heading into the All-Star Game?

David Levy: The numbers have been pretty good – I believe we’re flat year to year but we added more games on Monday nights. I like the storylines developing with Golden State and Oklahoma City, and I like the fact that Boston and the Clippers are playing a little better; San Antonio is always there, and let’s not forget about LeBron (James) and Cleveland. So I think the NBA is going to be in a really good position, and I think the playoffs are going to be really exiting this year.

MCN: What are your expectations for the All-Star game thig year?

DL: First of all its back in the US [last year’s game in Toronto] -- from a ratings perspective last year wasn’t one of our best rated games. I think it’s going to be a ratings success having it in New Orleans, but I also think there’s interest in the NBA right now. Carmelo Anthony just got in – he’s the commissioner’s pick but some have asked does he deserve to be in? I love to see [former teammates] Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have to practice with each other on the same team, so I think there are a number of underlying stories that people will look at.

MCN: If the elite teams in the league start to pull away from the pack, do you think that will hurt ratings for TNT’s NBA game telecasts in the second half of the season?

DL: No. I know a lot of people like to say parity is great, but it’s really about brands and strong teams. If we get some exciting [regular-season] games and then some game 7’s in the playoffs, the ratings will be there.

With Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook netting 41 at Madison Square Garden,  TNT and TBS's simulcast of the NBA All-Star Game dropped a 5.5 overnight rating..

That was up 12% vs. 2014, according to Nielsen data.

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New Yorkers were interested in the contest -- Westbrook (pictured) led the highest-scoring NBA ASG ever with his West squad topping the East 163-158  --  as the TNT-TBS telecast generated an 8.8 local rating in the Big Apple, the highest ever in Turner's history with the event..

The question remains how will the overnight deliveries translate into nationals -- especially given the success of NBC's Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special that garnered 23.1 million watchers and a giant 7.8 adults 18-to-49 rating on an overnight basis.  

Timed to yesterday's NBA All-Star Game, the NBA on TNT and NBA TV accounts – via Facebook and Twitter – reached a total gross audience of 74 million fans/followers who generated some 9.3 million video views

Live video streams for the NBA All-Star Game -- including Turner's TVE platforms -- were up 54% over last year, according to officials at the programmer.