Empowering Tulsa: New Black Mayor Unveils $100M Trust to Heal Wounds from the 1921 Race Massacre

Tulsa, Oklahoma, is taking significant steps to address the painful legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The new mayor, Monroe Nichols, has proposed a $100 million private trust designed to support descendants of those affected through scholarships and housing assistance. This initiative aims to heal the city’s historical wounds and foster economic growth.

During his announcement at the Greenwood Cultural Center, Nichols emphasized that this is not about direct payments. Instead, he prefers to frame his efforts as a “road to repair.” He called attention to the deep scars left by the massacre and subsequent acts of discrimination, like redlining and disinvestment.

“For 104 years, the Tulsa Race Massacre has been a stain on our city’s history,” Nichols stated, urging for restoration and acknowledgment of what was lost.

The plan is ambitious. Nichols intends for the trust to secure $105 million by June 1, 2026. Of this amount, $60 million is earmarked for revitalizing the North Tulsa area, a region devastated by the violence of 1921.

The Greenwood District was once a vibrant center of commerce, often referred to as “Black Wall Street.” Its destruction not only impacted the lives of its residents but also stifled Tulsa’s potential economic growth. Nichols said, “It robbed Tulsa of an economic future that could have been remarkable.”

Interestingly, Tulsa is not the only U.S. city addressing racial injustices through reparations. Evanston, Illinois, has launched a program granting $25,000 to Black residents for home improvements, funded by taxes on recreational marijuana sales. Other cities like Asheville, North Carolina, and as far as California are also considering similar measures.

The national political landscape complicates discussions around reparations. Recently, there has been pushback against diversity and equity initiatives at the federal level. Still, Nichols remains focused on the work ahead, despite these challenges.

User reactions highlight the complexity of the conversation. Jacqueline Weary, whose grandfather lost his hotel in the massacre, expresses a deep sense of loss. She recognizes the need for reparative measures while understanding the political hurdles. “It rightfully was our inheritance,” she said, reflecting on what could have been.

As for those directly affected, Leslie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher, the last living survivors of the massacre, are now 110 years old. Though they’ve received some financial support, calls for a more comprehensive reparations plan persist, particularly from advocates like Damario Solomon-Simmons.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court’s recent rejection of a lawsuit seeking reparations offers little hope for immediate justice. However, as cities and communities increasingly engage in these discussions, the need for acknowledgment and reparative steps becomes ever more crucial.

As Nichols put it, “We have to do this work.” Only time will tell if this plan takes root and how it might change the narrative of a city grappling with its painful past.

For more context, you can visit resources such as the Tulsa Historical Society for more about the impact of the massacre.

Source link

Tulsa, Racism, Black experience, General news, Texas, TX State Wire, Oklahoma, OK State Wire, Viola Ford Fletcher, Politics, Donald Trump, Race and ethnicity, John R. Emerson Sr., Business ownership, Jacqueline Weary, U.S. news, Race and Ethnicity