In Houston, Texas, Randall Morton has spent most of his life seeking answers about his identity, culture, and heritage. At the age of 6, he learned that his father belonged to the Osage tribe, yet information about his family’s history was scarce.
The Osage people’s land was significantly reduced after the Louisiana Purchase, and they were compelled to relocate to their final reservation in what is now Osage County, Oklahoma, by 1872. However, the discovery of oil on their land in 1897 made the Osage among the wealthiest in the world. Yet, this wealth attracted individuals, predominantly white Americans, who sought to exploit it, leading to a period known as the “Osage Reign of Terror” in the 1920s.
During this era, numerous Osage individuals perished under suspicious circumstances, with white perpetrators often evading justice. This dark chapter of injustice profoundly affected Morton’s family for generations. His grandparents fell victim to their next-door neighbor, a white man, over a minor disagreement about a garage’s usage. Witnessing this tragedy at the age of 15 marked the beginning of intergenerational trauma for Morton’s father.
Last spring, Morton unearthed details about his grandparents’ murder when a childhood friend shared a newspaper clipping from the 1920s detailing the crime scene. Concurrently, he closely followed the production of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a film that delves into the Osage Reign of Terror, offering him closure and aiding in his healing process.
Living in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood, Morton hopes that the painful history of the Osage Reign of Terror will remain remembered, serving as a lesson about the impact of power, greed, and racism. As “Killers of the Flower Moon” garners critical acclaim and Oscar nominations, Morton anticipates that it will prompt discussions in social studies classrooms, ensuring that future generations comprehend this significant episode in history.
“In a hundred years, all this trauma is ending,” Morton reflected, expressing his aspiration for the film to become a lasting educational resource.
