The Oklahoma Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking reparations for the remaining survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. This decision is a significant setback in the ongoing fight for justice more than a century after the devastating attack on the Greenwood neighborhood, known as Black Wall Street.
The lawsuit was initially filed in 2021 by survivors Hughes Van Ellis, Viola Fletcher, and Lessie Benningfield Randle. Tragically, Hughes Van Ellis passed away last year at the age of 102. The plaintiffs sought compensation from the city of Tulsa for the extensive damages inflicted during the massacre, which saw a prosperous Black community destroyed by a white mob.
Previously, an Oklahoma district court judge dismissed the lawsuit, siding with the city of Tulsa. The judge argued that “simply being connected to a historical event does not provide a person with unlimited rights to seek compensation.” Undeterred, the plaintiffs appealed to the state’s Supreme Court, seeking a reversal of the lower court’s decision.
On Wednesday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court acknowledged the legitimacy of the grievances related to the social and economic inequities created by the Tulsa Race Massacre. Despite this recognition, the court ultimately decided to dismiss the lawsuit. The ruling underscored the complexity of pursuing legal remedies for historical injustices, even when the social and economic impacts are evident and enduring.
The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Black residents, the destruction of over 1,000 homes, and the decimation of businesses in the Greenwood District. Often referred to as Black Wall Street, Greenwood was a thriving community symbolizing Black prosperity and resilience. The massacre left a lasting scar on the city and its Black residents, with survivors and descendants continuing to seek acknowledgment and reparations for the atrocity.
The dismissal of this lawsuit marks a poignant moment in the ongoing struggle for racial justice and reparations. While the court recognized the merit of the plaintiffs’ grievances, the legal pathway to compensation remains fraught with challenges. The decision underscores the broader conversation about how society addresses historical wrongs and the mechanisms available to seek justice for those impacted by such events.
As the fight for reparations continues, this ruling serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre and the resilience of those who continue to advocate for justice and recognition.
