In a landmark proposal unveiled Sunday, newly elected Mayor Monroe Nichols, Tulsa’s first Black mayor, introduced a $100 million private trust aimed at addressing the generational harm
caused by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Nichols announced the initiative — which he calls a "road to repair" rather than “reparations” — at the Greenwood Cultural Center, located in the historic neighborhood destroyed during the massacre. The plan does not include direct cash payments to survivors or descendants but instead focuses on long-term community investment.
“For 104 years, the Tulsa Race Massacre has been a stain on our city's history,” Nichols said. “Now it's time to take the next big steps to restore.”
Key Elements of the Plan
$105 Million Private Trust: Designed to be fully funded or committed by June 1, 2026.
$60 Million for Community Revitalization: Targeting infrastructure, buildings, and economic development in North Tulsa.
Education and Housing Support: Scholarships and housing assistance for descendants of massacre victims.
Governance: The trust will be managed by a board and executive director, with city property transfers requiring council approval.
Nichols emphasized that this effort is not just for Black Tulsans, but for the entire city, noting the economic opportunity lost when the Greenwood District — once known as "Black Wall Street" — was destroyed.
Acknowledging Challenges and History
The mayor’s proposal comes amid a politically fraught national debate over diversity and racial equity. Still, Nichols is committed to moving forward.
“The current political climate makes this harder,” he acknowledged, “but it doesn’t change the work we have to do.”
Nichols previously signed an executive order making June 1 an official city holiday — Tulsa Race Massacre Observance Day. Sunday's commemoration included family picnics, worship services, and a candlelight vigil.
Survivor and Descendant Perspectives
Two known living survivors of the massacre, both 110 years old — Viola Fletcher and Leslie Benningfield Randle — attended the announcement. Though they have received support from nonprofits and private donors, they have never received compensation from the city or state.
Jacqueline Weary, the granddaughter of survivor John R. Emerson Sr., whose hotel and cab company were destroyed in 1921, voiced cautious support for Nichols’ proposal.
“We understand the political realities,” she said, “but what was taken from us was more than property. It was our inheritance.”
Broader National Movement
Tulsa joins other U.S. cities exploring reparations, including Evanston, Illinois, which has funded housing assistance for Black residents through cannabis tax revenue. States, cities, universities, and religious groups across the country have launched similar efforts to confront historical injustices.
Yet in Tulsa, legal paths to compensation remain limited. A lawsuit brought on behalf of the survivors was dismissed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2023. Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons, who represents Fletcher and Randle, has called for direct payments and a victims’ fund, arguing that any plan excluding cash reparations falls short.
Despite legal setbacks, Nichols’ proposal marks one of the most significant city-led initiatives to address the legacy of the massacre, aiming to shift Tulsa from remembrance to restoration. Photo by © Caleb Long, Wikimedia commons.