Viola Ford Fletcher, Last Survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Passes Away
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols has confirmed the passing of Viola Ford Fletcher, who was the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, at the age of 111.
“Today, our city mourns the loss of Mother Viola Fletcher, a survivor of one of the darkest chapters in our city’s history. Mother Fletcher endured more than anyone should, yet she spent her life lighting a path forward with purpose,” Nichols stated on social media.
He added, “Mother Fletcher carried 111 years of truth, resilience, and grace and was a reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we must still go. She never stopped advocating for justice for the survivors and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, and I hope we all can carry forward her legacy with the courage and conviction she modeled every day of her life.”
Fletcher, a grandmother of six who lived in North Texas, spoke to CBS News in 2021 about the lasting impact of the massacre on her life. “It will be something I’ll never forget,” she remarked.
Dr. Michael Carter, Sr., a global leader of the Black Wall Street Movement, expressed his sorrow, stating, “She had a beautiful smile on her face. We are at a complete and immeasurable loss for words at the transition of Queen Mother Viola.” He also announced the establishment of the Viola Ford Fletcher Lifetime Recognition Award by Black Wall Street USA, which will honor individuals for exceptional longevity, spiritual devotion, and dedicated service to God and country.
The Attack on Tulsa’s Black Wall Street
The Greenwood District, known as “Black Wall Street,” was devastated when a White mob attacked following allegations against a Black man for assaulting a White woman. The assault, which lasted a day, resulted in the deaths of at least 300 Black residents and the displacement of thousands, as rioters targeted Black individuals, looted businesses, and set buildings ablaze.
Martial law was declared after the National Guard arrived to assist in detaining Black residents. According to the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum, over 35 blocks were burned, and around 6,000 individuals were detained, some for as long as eight days.
Reflecting on her life before the violence, Fletcher told CBS News, “We had friends and played outside and [would] visit with neighbors and was happy there with our parents. Just loved being there.”
Lessie Benningfield Randle, who celebrated her 111th birthday earlier this month, is now the last surviving witness of the massacre.
Reparations Lawsuit
In 2020, Randle, Fletcher, and Fletcher’s brother, Hughes Van Ellis, who passed away in 2023, joined other plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the city and county of Tulsa, seeking reparations for the massacre’s repercussions.
The survivors provided testimony before Congress regarding the violence they experienced a century ago.
“I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire. I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams,” Fletcher recounted during her testimony to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties in 2021.
Tulsa officials have maintained that they should not be held financially accountable, asserting that current residents have no connection to events that occurred over a century ago.
Despite the absence of justice for the perpetrators, descendants of survivors and human rights advocates have consistently called for reparations to address the enduring damage inflicted on their community.
However, there may finally be progress on this front. Last year, Nichols made history as Tulsa’s first Black mayor. In June, he unveiled a $105 million initiative to commemorate the inaugural Tulsa Race Massacre Observance Day. According to The New York Times, this “Road to Repair” plan aims to address the socioeconomic and health disparities that have persisted since the massacre.
