Organizations launch major investment in ongoing fight for reparative justice
NATIONWIDE — As the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre concludes, the Justice for Greenwood Foundation announced a six-figure gift to the remaining survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Thanks to the organization’s countless supporters, Color Of Change members and fundraising efforts nationwide, the Justice for Greenwood Foundation is gifting $100,000 to each survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre – Mother Fletcher, Mother Randle and Hughes Van Ellis. Following a century of inaction from the government of Tulsa, the payments mark an important step in the long overdue path toward justice and an act of resistance to the city’s continued efforts to erase Greenwood’s Black community and history.
“We are immensely proud to play our role in rectifying these injustices,” said Damario Solomon Simmons, Founder and Executive Director of Justice For Greenwood Foundation. “Nothing can undo the immense pain inflicted upon the remaining survivors of the massacre, but alleviating their current financial burdens inflicted not only by the massacre itself but subsequent systemic racism is the least we could do for them as we continue to push for reparations. Now, we must work to ensure their stories are told, confronting our past and learning from it, to ensure we actively challenge enduring injustices.”
For 100 years, the city of Tulsa has repeatedly denied calls for reparations to the descendants and survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre. On the massacre’s centennial anniversary, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, who, according to news reports, built his wealth from his family’s enslavement of Black people, is doubling down by promptly promoting efforts that continue to exclude reparations for the descendants and survivors. Meanwhile, survivors like Mother Randle, at age 106, testified on the House floor that she is unable to purchase basic items such as milk. Anything short of compensating these survivors is a clear failure in leadership.
Ahead of the centennial anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, racial justice organization Color Of Change launched a campaign to hold the city of Tulsa accountable for their failure to address one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history. The campaign combats the city’s continued efforts to erase Greenwood’s Black community and history, with over 20,000 members signing on in support.
“We cannot allow Tulsa’s leaders to champion their revisionist history and continue to exploit the very people affected by this national tragedy,” said Rashad Robinson, President of Color Of Change. “Thanks to the leaders of the Justice for Greenwood Foundation, and so many others who continue to fight for reparations that are rightfully owed, this gift for the survivors of the Tulsa massacre shows that we have the power to demand justice for Black communities in Tulsa and all across the country. Over the years, the government has transformed a once proud and historical Black Wall Street site into a whitewashed commercial district that is primarily owned by wealthy white developers – all while pricing Tulsa’s Black entrepreneurs out of the area. The fight is far from over – Color Of Change, alongside our members, will continue to demand justice for Black communities’, combat the decades-long and present day impact of economic exploitation, and provide equitable solutions for Black people in the generations to come. ”
While Tulsa’s government tacitly acknowledges its city’s past, without reparative policies, activists on the ground rightfully call out that acknowledgement is not enough. Racial justice and human rights groups across the country will continue to watch carefully over the coming weeks to see how Tulsa’s government responds to this consistent demand of advocates, attorneys, academics, volunteers, massacre descendants and survivors, and others for reparations and Justice for Greenwood.
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About Color Of Change:
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org.
About the Justice for Greenwood Foundation
The Justice for Greenwood Foundation is a grassroots, 501(c)(3) organization with a big vision: to get Respect, Reparations, and Repair for the Greenwood community for the near century of historical omissions and continued harm caused by the 1921 Massacre, through innovative legal strategies, public education, and advocacy. J4G focuses on identifying, locating, and providing a platform for the descendants of the survivors of the Massacre to share their and their ancestors’ stories. Our public education efforts will publicize these stories and educate about the Massacre and its ongoing impacts. Our advocacy efforts agitate for justice for survivors and descendants of those victimized by the Massacre and its continued harm. J4G supports strategies that bolster present-day Greenwood community and policies that deliver justice and pay reparations. Visit justiceforgreenwood.org.