Have you ever gone down a rabbit hole? Like, you had intentions to explore topic A (in my case, conservatorship in the US), but then find out about topic B (headrights, oil, and murder in Oklahoma)?
If you haven't heard about the Reign of Terror associated with the Osage people, you aren't alone. This is definitely part of America's dark history; a story of greed, corruption, oil, and money in the early 20th century. Coined "The Reign of Terror" by news outlets, this is sadly one of many stories about the mistreatment of Indigenous people by whites, but more so because of the murder that also transpired. Why would anyone target a subsect of Indigenous people in Oklahoma? Because they were rich. Oil money rich; and they were birth rights and inherited. However, that means you could designate someone to take your headrights, right? Well, kinda. The US government declared that many of those Indigenous people could NOT make sound decisions, and needed someone watching over them...that was a white lawyer or business man. What could go wrong? Oh, you know, deception, greed, corruption, and obviously MURDER.
Starting in May of 1921, local hunters discovered the decomposing body of 36-year-old Anna Brown in a remote ravine of Osage County. Because there was no apparent killer, police declared the death alcohol poisoning because, why not? Well, that's just where this story begins. Tune in to hear more about The Reign of Terror, and how the murders stopped...ish.
Have you ever gone down a rabbit hole? Like, you had intentions to explore topic A (in my case, conservatorship in the US), but then find out about topic B (headrights, oil, and murder in Oklahoma)?
If you haven't heard about the Reign of Terror associated with the Osage people, you aren't alone. This is definitely part of America's dark history; a story of greed, corruption, oil, and money in the early 20th century. Coined "The Reign of Terror" by news outlets, this is sadly one of many stories about the mistreatment of Indigenous people by whites, but more so because of the murder that also transpired. Why would anyone target a subsect of Indigenous people in Oklahoma? Because they were rich. Oil money rich; and they were birth rights and inherited. However, that means you could designate someone to take your headrights, right? Well, kinda. The US government declared that many of those Indigenous people could NOT make sound decisions, and needed someone watching over them...that was a white lawyer or business man. What could go wrong? Oh, you know, deception, greed, corruption, and obviously MURDER.
Starting in May of 1921, local hunters discovered the decomposing body of 36-year-old Anna Brown in a remote ravine of Osage County. Because there was no apparent killer, police declared the death alcohol poisoning because, why not? Well, that's just where this story begins. Tune in to hear more about The Reign of Terror, and how the murders stopped...ish.