Tal Jones Story
Additional Information
“The dead cannot cry out for justice; It is the duty of the living to do so for them.”
The American Dream has perpetuated the myth that we all have an equal opportunity to generate the kind of wealth that brings meaning to the words, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as stated in the Declaration of Independence.
Were these truths evident at the time it was written? And are they evident for all today? Dr. Moore will bring to light a compelling book and screenplay, based on the life of Tal Jones. It is the true story of the history and legacy of a black family from Oklahoma’s oil-rich land. The story moves the reader from a boy born into slavery to the emotional torment of being treated as a chattel, to inheriting land that would ultimately lead to a multi-million-dollar fortune for his descendants. Tal struck oil just before the historic Tulsa, Oklahoma massacre, a direct consequence of black prosperity and oil.
The book and screenplay will bring to life interesting characters and distant relatives who scheme to take oil land from Tal’s children and their offspring. It is filled with unexpected twists, including significant events in history.
The story of Tal Jones is unique as it actually chronicles an authentic Black American family who, against all odds have living descendants who add validity to this distinctive story. Historically, many Black Americans were property-rich and cash poor without the financial resources to fight for their land- rights. But Tal Jones and his descendants were able to retain Oil wealth through a maze of legal challenges. While the courts have since ruled in their favor, from the early 1920s to today, 100 years later, the Jones family is still wracked with legal challenges to ensure their oil royalties remain within the family.
Dr. Moore, the great-great-great-grandson of Tal Jones, has spent years diving into the archives of the family’s history and spending numerous hours documenting the recollection of individual family members. There are many layers to the Tal Jones story.
