The Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit brought by the last two survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre seeking reparations.

RANDLE V. CITY OF TULSA

2024 OK 40

Case Number: 121502

Decided: 06/12/2024

THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

The lawsuit, filed by 107-year-old Viola Fletcher and 106-year-old Hughes Van Ellis, sought to hold the city of Tulsa and its officials accountable for the devastation wrought upon the Black community during what is considered one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history.

The court’s dismissal of the lawsuit raises important questions about justice, accountability, and reparations for historical injustices. While the court cited the statute of limitations as the basis for its decision, many see this as a missed opportunity to acknowledge and address the lasting impact of the massacre on the survivors and their descendants.

The Tulsa Race Massacre, also known as the Black Wall Street Massacre, resulted in the destruction of a thriving Black community and the loss of hundreds of lives. The survivors have waited nearly a century for justice, and the dismissal of their lawsuit only adds to the long history of systemic racism and injustice that continues to plague our society.

The legacy of racial violence and inequality in America is something that piques our interest, as we delve into confronting the past and considering restitution and reparations for those who have been harmed as a consequence. The recent dismissal of the lawsuit by the Oklahoma Supreme Court involving the final two survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre serves as a clear indication of the pressing need for justice and accountability in addressing historical injustices.