The Filling Station
| Modern Age |
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 The Filling Station
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American History > Modern Age > African American History
"The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is, shockingly, little more than a footnote in history . . . Miller's book, thankfully, reverses that egregious oversight . . . we viscerally learn how this vibrant Black community fought devastation with resilience, faith, and grit." --Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"The Tulsa Race Massacre is rarely covered in historical fiction, and this story is an absolutely worthy addition to the genre." --Booklist Starred Review
"In a novel that should be required reading, Miller movingly explores the aftermath of racial trauma and how resilient people can open their hearts again." --Library Journal Starred Review
Two sisters. One unassuming haven. Endless opportunities for grace.
Sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice have grown up in the prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma--also known as Black Wall Street. In Greenwood, the Justice sisters had it all--movie theaters and entertainment venues, beauty shops and clothing stores, high-profile businesses like law offices, medical clinics, and banks. While Evelyn aspires to head off to the East Coast to study fashion design, recent college grad Margaret plans to settle in Greenwood, teaching at the local high school and eventually raising a family.
Then the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre upends everything they know and brings them unspeakable loss. Left with nothing but each other, the sisters flee along what would eventually become iconic Route 66 and stumble upon the Threatt Filling Station, a safe haven and the only place where they can find a shred of hope in oppressive Jim Crow America. At the filling station, they are able to process their pain, fill up their souls, and find strength as they wrestle with a faith in God that has left them feeling abandoned.
But they eventually realize that they can't hide out at the filling station when Greenwood needs to be rebuilt. The search for their father and their former life may not give them easy answers, but it can propel them--and their community--to a place where their voices are stronger . . . strong enough to build a future that honors the legacy of those who were lost.
Emily's Review
I am always interested in reading more about lesser-known historical events, so I was excited to get my hands on this arc. Thank you so much to the publisher and to Netgalley!
This story follows two sisters through the events and aftermath of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Their father owned a grocery store in Greenwood, and the two sisters are both on the cusp of adulthood when their home and neighborhood was destroyed and their lives are completely upended.
I know the basic facts about the event, but I haven't read many books about it. I had high hopes for this novel. There were elements that I really liked! I thought the two sisters were compelling characters. I loved Margaret's tenacity and hope in rebuilding her community. I also liked how the author showed the effects of trauma through Evelyn. I also really appreciated the research that went into this book. I learned so much. Each chapter begins with a quote from that time to build context around the events of the story.
My biggest issue, though, was that it felt very preachy. Margaret's husband is a preacher, and the way he tried to convince characters (and the reader?) that God was still in charge despite the tragedy...I didn't love that. If it were a minor element of the story, I think I would have enjoyed it more, but it comes up over and over again.
I still think it was worth reading, if only to learn more about the aftermath of the massacre.
Other Similar Books
Other suggestions on the subject of Tulsa Race Massacre.
- Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre (by: Boston Weatherford, Carole, MG)
- The Burning (Young Readers Edition) (by: Beard, Hilary, Madigan, Tim, UMG, YA)
- Angel of Greenwood (by: Pink, Randi, YA, A)
- The Filling Station (by: Miller, Vanessa, A)