Nov 18, 2024 Story by: Editor
A memorial service honored the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, including a World War I veteran, with a monument to commemorate their lives.
The larger context: Many of the estimated 300 Black residents killed by a white mob, which ravaged the prosperous, middle-class Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have yet to be identified.
In 2021, the city of Tulsa launched an investigation into 120 unmarked graves at Oaklawn Cemetery. C. L. Daniel was the first victim to be identified in July after his remains were uncovered in a mass grave in 2020. His name is now etched on a memorial stone at the site, honoring those found there.
What’s being said: Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum (R) shared during the memorial service that Daniel had been attempting to find work and a way to return to his mother in Georgia when he was killed.
“His mother died never knowing where her son was buried,” Bynum stated.
The key takeaway: A letter from Daniel’s family emphasized that the event “today represents more than a memorial for C.L. Daniel and those still resting in unidentified graves” in the community once known as “Black Wall Street.”
“It is a long-awaited acknowledgment of lives impacted by the massacre and a testament to the resilience of the Greenwood community, which has sought recognition and justice for their loved ones over generations,” the letter added.
A broader perspective: Earlier this year, the Justice Department initiated its first-ever investigation into one of the deadliest race massacres in U.S. history, with plans to release a report by the end of 2024.
No charges have been filed in connection with the mass killing. A judge recently dismissed a reparations lawsuit filed by survivors of the massacre.
One of the two last known survivors, Lessie Benningfield Randle, marked her 110th birthday on Sunday.
Looking ahead: In the weeks to come, more headstones will be placed at Oaklawn Cemetery. According to a City of Tulsa Facebook post, these headstones will “pay tribute to everyone” discovered at the site.
“While many individuals in this part of Oaklawn Cemetery do not yet have a name, we remain committed to searching for the truth, wherever it may lead us,” the post concluded. Source: Axios
