Mary Williams
Mary L. Williams is an artist, poet, and writer. Her art emphasis is on African American History and Virtue Art. She is the founder of Color Me True Destiny Programs. Color Me True (CMT) serves as a community outreach program promoting Art, History, and Life Skills. Williams is grateful for successful collaborations with civic and business leaders as well as local artists and educational institutions. Her networks strengthen her ability to host multicultural events which foster Cross-Cultural dialogue annually under the CMT programming.
Williams is the founder and host of the annual Black Wall Street Art Gala on Historic Greenwood which provides a formal atmosphere for artists to display, discuss, and sell their artworks. She is also the founder of the annual JUNETEENTH salute to the Negro Baseball League with the Tulsa Drillers baseball team.
Her art hero is Henry O. Tanner. Inspired by Tanner's art and his life, Williams presents an annual Art/Lecture event in memory of Tanner with a discussion on “The Impact of Art on Mental Health.” Williams states, “ Art is an unfolding story of the soul which converts what is unseen into a visible reality.” In collaboration with four artistic friends, she is a visionary and curator of one of the largest Art Murals in Tulsa.
Williams’ sentiment for Art is expressed in the words of Henry O. Tanner who said, “My efforts have been to not only put the Biblical incident in the original setting but at the same time give the human touch which makes the whole world kin and which ever remains the same.”
Centennial Black Wall Street Heritage Parade
Mary L. Williams reignites a lost tradition of Greenwood’s past generations through the Centennial Black Wall Street Heritage Parade on Historic Greenwood in a procession featuring floats honoring iconic Tulsa figures. Local schools, businesses, artists, and community members will create floats dedicated to events and figures in Greenwood’s history and Black History, promoting a sense of pride in the district’s heritage and providing educational opportunities for Tulsans to learn about the contributions of Black Americans not just to Greenwood’s history, but to national history. The procession will follow a painted brick pathway along Greenwood Avenue, building a jubilant event to bring the community together in celebrating Greenwood’s history and community.
The Centennial Black Wall Street Heritage Parade will take place on May 29 at Greenwood Ave. and John Hope Franklin Blvd.