Houston Rockets superstar Russell Westbrook is widening his horizons by trying his hand at producing a documentary. As confirmed by production company Blackfin, the one-time NBA MVP will spearhead a project about the infamous 1921 race massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Russell Westbrook's docuseries is expected to be released around the 100th anniversary of the gruesome catastrophe, which is still considered as the worst incident of racial violence in the history of the United States.
“It’s upsetting that the atrocities that transpired then are still so relevant today. It’s important we uncover the buried stories of African Americans in this country. We must amplify them now more than ever if we want to create change moving forward,” Westbrook said in a statement relayed by The Hollywood Reporter.
Director Stanley Nelson will reportedly helm the project, which now has the working title “Terror in Tulsa: The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street.”
The sickening tragedy took place in the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when mobs of white residents viciously attacked black residents and their businesses.
The aftermath saw an estimated 800 people admitted to hospitals, while around 6,000 African-American residents were reportedly confined in large facilities for several days.
It's quite saddening that the same atrocities are still committed to the black community, decades after the massacre. Country-wide protests continue to invade streets in the US, as people seek justice for the inhumane killing of George Floyd.
Tulsa, meanwhile, is just almost two hours away from Oklahoma City, where Westbrook played 11 seasons for the Thunder.
Westbrook follows the footsteps of his former Thunder teammate Kevin Durant, who has also been producing through his company Thirty-Five Ventures.
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