Morris Chestnut to Host OWN Docuseries Rebuilding Black Wall Street [TRAILER]

OWN released the trailer to its upcoming docuseries, “Rebuilding Black Wall Street,” hosted by Morris Chestnut. The series, set to premiere on September 29, will follow Chestnut and designers Jon Pierre and Mary Tjon-Joe-Pin with their teams as they delve into the rich history of Greenwood and the personal journeys of its inhabitants, many of whom are descendants of the original Black Wall Street residents. The six-episode series will document the challenges, both physical and emotional, that come with large-scale construction while celebrating the promise of Greenwood’s future.

On May 31, 1921, Tulsa’s Greenwood District, also known as Black Wall Street, a thriving community of Black leaders, entrepreneurs, and homeowners, was devastated by racial violence, marking one of the most horrific incidents of racial terrorism in the United States since slavery. The destruction resulted in an estimated 300 deaths, the destruction of over 1,200 homes, and the burning of at least 60 businesses and community buildings.

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The featured stories in this season include Montika Collins, a descendant of the Tulsa Race Massacre, who aims to establish North Tulsa’s only natural birthing center and revive the tradition of midwifery in the Greenwood District, with assistance from designers Jon Pierre and Mary. Another story, “The Family House,” follows Rachel Walker, a descendant of the Tulsa massacre, as she works to preserve her ancestral home with the help of the nonprofit 1256 Movement, shedding light on Tulsa’s history of home ownership as the design team renovates her kitchen. “The Transition Home” explores Tulsa’s complex history and D’Marria Monday’s mission to create a haven for recently incarcerated women reintegrating into society, with the design team adding special touches to the home. “The Farm” focuses on Rodney and Sheila Clark’s family farm and its transformation by guest expert Ron Finley, with assistance from Jon Pierre and Mary in their effort to combat North Tulsa’s food desert. “The Mansion” features special guest Ananda Lewis as she assists Jon Pierre and Mary in upgrading the historic Skyline Mansion, which serves as a studio for the local rap group Fire in Little Africa, while educators work to restore Black history studies in Tulsa. Finally, “The Restaurant” showcases former NBA star Kevin Johnson’s opening of Fixins Soul Kitchen in Tulsa, with three survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre in attendance, along with the design team. Tech innovator Lael Alexander also contributes his inventions to community leaders.

This series is a collaborative effort involving Warner Bros. Discovery, GroupM Motion Entertainment, and Domino’s, as part of GroupM’s Diverse Voices Accelerator, an initiative supporting creators, writers, producers, and directors from traditionally underrepresented groups in entertainment.

“Rebuilding Black Wall Street” is produced by Sunwise Media, with Ri-Karlo Handy and Karra Duncan, both Tulsa Race Massacre descendants, serving as executive producers. Morris Chestnut, through his MC8 Productions, and Greenwood Creative Studios, also takes on the role of executive producer.

The television series, “Rebuilding Black Wall Street,” sees American actor Morris Chestnut joining forces with designers, builders, and experts to revitalize the Tulsa, Oklahoma community, specifically the historic Greenwood District. Oprah Winfrey’s network, OWN, has chosen to spotlight this process, shedding light on the challenges and pressures involved. This endeavor aims to resurrect a community with deep roots that suffered greatly due to racism and violence against Black people in America during the 1920s. Now, the descendants of local business owners are determined to bring it back to life. “Rebuilding Black Wall Street” will make its debut on Friday, September 29, at 9/8 Central Standard Time exclusively on OWN. You can watch the two-minute trailer below.