VIDEO EVIDENCE: Black Woman Assaulted in Tulsa, Police Accused of Declining Charges Against White Attacker
Social Media Criticism Reignites Debate on Respectability Politics
TULSA, OK – A recent incident at a Tulsa dog park, captured on video, has ignited a complex conversation within the Black community about safety, justice, and the enduring pressures of respectability politics. A Black content creator, known online as TheJMorgan, shared footage of a white woman physically assaulting her, yet claims the Tulsa Police Department (TPD) failed to file charges or even a report, despite the visual evidence and bystander accounts.
Adding another layer to the trauma, the victim faced unexpected criticism on social media from some Black women questioning her decision not to retaliate physically, prompting her to articulate the deep-seated fears that informed her choice.
The encounter, which Morgan states occurred in October 2024, reportedly began over a violation of dog park rules regarding toys. According to Morgan, a white woman brought a squeaky toy into the park, which her dog picked up. When Morgan attempted to return the toy and explain the rule to prevent conflict among larger dogs, the situation escalated dramatically.
Video shows the white woman becoming aggressive, screaming, and swinging at Morgan, making physical contact at least once, while Morgan attempts to shield herself and her dog and de-escalate the situation by walking away and contacting law enforcement.
Morgan’s account alleges that responding TPD officers did not take action against her assailant. This claim raises serious concerns, especially given Tulsa's fraught history regarding race and law enforcement.
Less than a mile from the Greenwood District, the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre – where a white mob, aided by some city officials, decimated a prosperous Black community and murdered hundreds – trust in the impartiality of local authorities remains a sensitive issue.
The Massacre itself was ignited by an accusation against a Black man and the threat of lynching, underscoring the historical reality of racial violence and the failure of the justice system to protect Black citizens in Tulsa.
Reports, including a recent review by the Department of Justice, have highlighted law enforcement involvement in the 1921 violence and ongoing concerns about racial disparities in policing in the city today, including disproportionate arrests of Black adults and youth and higher rates of force used against Black individuals, as noted in reports like "We Are Not Lesser: An Urgent Call to End Over-Policing of Black Communities and Transform Public Safety in Tulsa, Oklahoma" by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
TPD Captain Richard Meulenberg has publicly stated he is looking into the incident, noting that typical protocol for an assault not occurring in an officer's presence involves taking a report and issuing a citation.
However, he also mentioned a lack of a corresponding incident report in TPD records related to Morgan's description and encouraged her to provide more details to help locate information about the response.
This disconnect between a citizen's experience and official records is a recurring point of tension in communities grappling with issues of police accountability.
Beyond the initial assault and the questions surrounding the police response, TheJMorgan's experience took another turn when some commenters on social media criticized her for not fighting back. This reaction taps into the complex and often burdensome "politics of respectability" that Black women, in particular, have historically navigated.
Since the era of slavery and throughout the Jim Crow period and beyond, Black women have faced harmful stereotypes that hypersexualized them while simultaneously denying them protection and demanding a level of composure and decorum often not required of others.
The pressure to present a "respectable" front was, for many, a survival strategy – an attempt to counter negative perceptions and gain a semblance of safety or acceptance in a hostile society.
Yet, it also created a trap, where responding assertively or with justified anger could be twisted into confirming negative stereotypes, potentially leading to harsher consequences, especially in interactions with law enforcement.
Morgan directly addressed this in her response to critics, explaining her conscious decision to de-escalate. She highlighted the very real danger in a state with open-carry laws and a history of racial violence, stating the risk of being shot was not worth engaging in a physical altercation, particularly one that police might view through a biased lens, potentially portraying a Black woman fighting a white woman differently than the reverse.
Her decision was a calculated act of self-preservation, informed by the heavy weight of historical context and the precarious position Black individuals, especially Black women, can occupy within the justice system.
This incident in Tulsa serves as a stark reminder that for Black Americans, particularly Black women, seemingly simple encounters can be layered with historical trauma, racial dynamics, and the constant pressure to navigate a world that too often fails to offer equal protection or understanding.
Call to Action:
This incident underscores the critical need for transparency and accountability within police departments, particularly in cities with histories of racial injustice like Tulsa.
Community members must continue to document their experiences and demand thorough investigations into allegations of unequal treatment by law enforcement.
It is also vital to cultivate spaces within the Black community for open dialogue about safety strategies, trauma responses, and the complexities of respectability politics, offering support and understanding rather than judgment to those who have experienced racialized violence.
Engage with local organizations working on police reform and community safety initiatives.
Support platforms like The Black Wall Street Times that provide vital coverage of these issues from a Black perspective.
Sources:
The Black Wall Street Times: Black woman claims Tulsa police failed to charge white attacker
AAIHS: Black Women and the Politics of Respectability: An Introduction
