Tulsa’s First Black Mayor Plans To Address An Ugly History

Earlier this month, former Oklahoma state Rep. Monroe Nichols (D) was elected the primary Black mayor of Tulsa. Amongst different plans, Nichols needs to assist heal a group nonetheless grappling with the legacy of a racist bloodbath that killed at the least 300 individuals greater than a century in the past.

The Division of Justice just lately introduced a evaluation of the Tulsa Race Bloodbath, a two-day occasion in 1921 when a white mob terrorized a 35-square block space referred to as “Black Wall Road,” which consisted largely of prosperous properties and thriving Black-owned companies.

There was a sustained push in Tulsa for the town authorities to concern reparations of some sort to the descendants of these affected by tragedy, and to the bigger group of Greenwood, the neighborhood that now stands on the location of the bloodbath. Nichols instructed HuffPost he helps the hassle to resolve the ache that descendants of the bloodbath ― and the 2 remaining survivors of the occasion, each now over 100 years outdated ― nonetheless face. However he has not but established a tough stance on reparations.

Nichols’ marketing campaign was primarily based on rehabilitating Tulsa’s schooling system and addressing reasonably priced housing points as a way to fight homelessness. Black Tulsa residents have lengthy suffered from a dearth of financial alternative, Nichols stated.

“My election was a powerful assertion that Tulsans are able to respectfully and meaningfully shut a painful chapter in our metropolis’s historical past and transfer ahead collectively,” he instructed HuffPost in an e-mail. “My time in workplace is in regards to the future and I don’t consider a greater future is feasible till we do the arduous work of therapeutic the injuries of the previous.”

The DOJ evaluation will assess what occurred in the course of the riots. It’s unclear if the evaluation will lead on to a neighborhood reparations effort.

However the metropolis began the Past Apology Fee this 12 months to reconcile and unite Tulsa residents within the Greenwood group and the descendants of these affected by the riot. Beneath the management of Tulsa’s present mayor, G.T. Bynum, the fee has not seen a lot progress relating to reparations. It was tasked with reviewing two studies, one from 2023 and one from 2001, that each known as for reparations for descendants and survivors of the bloodbath.

“I consider it’s important for survivors and descendants of bloodbath victims to search out closure from this painful chapter in our historical past,” Nichols stated. “As soon as the Past Apology Fee releases its suggestion and the DOJ investigation has concluded I consider my position is to behave on the advice and deal with uniting our metropolis.”

Bynum has stated individuals in Tulsa “view reparations as not simply money funds,” and that there’s additionally curiosity in financial, academic and housing alternatives ― points that Nichols named as his priorities throughout his marketing campaign.

In August, Nichols stated schooling was one thing the town must be laser-focused on.

“We’ve bought to take this discuss of reparations out of the political sense and deal with different areas,” he instructed The Related Press. “Training is an space the place we should always actually sink our enamel into fairly a bit.”

It’s not clear whether or not any potential reparations would truly take the type of money funds.

Joyce Williams, a longtime Tulsa resident who voted for Nichols, stated she expects him to be “open to the group” and make an actual effort to supply “some technique of compensation” to descendants and survivors.

“I anticipate that he’ll try to influence our potential to get within the place to have a listening to on the lack of a powerful monetary system introduced on by [the massacre], and I anticipate we’re going to must push him identical to anybody else,” Williams instructed HuffPost. “I’m not naive to assume that this man is just not going to have the ability to do a complete lot with out some push and assist.”

Damario Solomon-Simmons, govt director of Justice for Greenwood, an advocacy group for Tulsa Race Bloodbath survivors and descendants, instructed HuffPost that addressing the fear and trauma that erupted in 1921 must be a “prime precedence” for Nichols.

“We’re excited as a result of we need to see insurance policies and legal guidelines carried out that profit our group, and on the prime of our checklist is justice and reparations for the 1921 Tulsa race bloodbath, significantly because it pertains to the 2 residing survivors,” Solomon-Simmons instructed HuffPost.

“That needs to be one of many issues he does within the very starting to maneuver this concern ahead and have precise progress, and never simply one other Black face in a excessive place,” Solomon-Simmons stated.

The final two residing survivors of the bloodbath ― Viola Fletcher, 110, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, 110 ― have, together with a number of descendants, been preventing in courts of their quest for reparations.

In June, the Oklahoma Supreme Court docket rejected a request to rethink a dismissed lawsuit filed by Fletcher and Randle. The goal of the lawsuit was to pressure the town of Tulsa to pay reparations to Fletcher and Randle for his or her sufferings after the bloodbath. After the rejection, Solomon-Simmons, who represents the 2 survivors, requested a federal evaluation from the Division of Justice, and met with Kristen Clarke, assistant lawyer common for civil rights, in Washington, D.C. The announcement of the evaluation got here months later.

“My election as Mayor exhibits that Tulsans are prepared for a brand new form of management ― one dedicated to constructing a metropolis the place we will reside and work collectively, no matter race,” Nichols instructed HuffPost. “I do know that I’m capable of serve at this time as a result of I stand on the shoulders of those that sacrificed for our group earlier than, throughout, and after the race bloodbath.”

Solomon-Simmons instructed HuffPost that addressing the town’s racial points and historical past was one of many fundamental driving components for voters this 12 months. Now, the group waits for outcomes.

“This is among the causes North Tulsans and Black Tulsans voted in such excessive numbers for Monroe,” Solomon-Simmons stated. “As a result of they consider he’ll do one thing that has by no means been performed. To verify reparations are carried out appropriately.”