Key Highlights
- Viola Ford Fletcher, a living witness to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died at 111 years old.
- Fletcher lived through the destruction of Greenwood, known as Black Wall Street, and shared her experiences with the world.
- The massacre resulted in the death of up to 300 people and left thousands homeless.
The Greenwood Massacre: A Living Testimony
Viola Ford Fletcher, a testament to resilience and perseverance, has passed away at the remarkable age of 111. Born in the heart of Greenwood, known as Black Wall Street, she witnessed one of the most catastrophic events in American history—the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. This event, which left an indelible mark on Fletcher’s life and the broader community, serves as a poignant reminder of the past and its enduring impact.
A Childhood Altered Forever
On May 31, 1921, seven-year-old Viola Ford was tucked into bed in her Greenwood home. The neighborhood, bustling with life and prosperity, seemed like a world apart from the violence that would soon engulf it. “We had children to play with, schools, churches, hospitals, theatres—anything people enjoyed,” Fletcher recalled in an interview. However, within hours, the tranquility of her childhood was shattered by the chaos of the massacre.
The Devastation Unfolds
Describing the events that unfolded, Fletcher wrote in her memoir: “We passed piles of dead bodies heaped in the streets. Some had their eyes open as though they were still alive but weren’t.” The destruction was overwhelming; entire blocks of Greenwood lay in ruins. White lynchers looted and burned around 35 blocks of this once-thriving district, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Initial estimates suggested up to 300 Black residents lost their lives, with thousands more arrested, robbed, and beaten.
A Life Interrupted
The aftermath of the massacre was just as traumatic for Fletcher. Forced to flee her home, she spent the next decade in a state of uncertainty, moving from town to town with her family. “I didn’t know where we were going,” she said, reflecting on those early years. The disruption extended beyond physical displacement; education became a distant dream. “We weren’t able to go to school; the days we should have been in class were time for harvesting crops or other work,” Fletcher explained.
Legacy and Advocacy
In 2021, 100 years after the massacre, Fletcher testified before Congress. Her words echoed with the pain of memories long buried: “I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street, I still smell smoke and see fire. I hear the screams.” These harrowing accounts underscored the persistent impact of such historical events on individual lives.
The ongoing efforts to address the legacy of the massacre, including a $105 million trust announced by Tulsa, reflect the continuing quest for justice and reparations.
Viola Ford Fletcher’s life and her recounting of the Greenwood Massacre serve as a powerful reminder of the need to confront the past and ensure that such atrocities are not repeated. Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy will live on through the stories she shared and the impact of those stories.
