TCA: National Geographic to Develop Documentary on 1921 Tulsa Massacre

Buildings on fire in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 1921 Tulsa race massacre (Image credit: Alvin C. Krupnick Co. via the Library of Congress)

National Geographic will develop a documentary that examines the Tulsa Massacre of 1921 that will premiere in June.

The Red Summer documentary focuses on the 100th anniversary of the two-day Tulsa Massacre that led to the murder of as many as 300 Black people and left as many as 10,000 homeless and displaced, according to the network. Washington Post journalist and Tulsa native DeNeen Brown is at the heart of the film, reporting on the search for mass graves in her hometown, said network executives.

Nat Geo will premiere Red Summer in June, commemorating Juneteenth when the last Black slaves in the U.S. heard of their emancipation. The documentary is produced by Dawn Porter’s (Good Trouble: John Lewis) Trilogy Films and Trailblazer Studios in association with National Geographic Studios.

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.