Photo by: Scripps National
May 15, 2024 Story by: Editor
Over a century after the tragic Tulsa Race Massacre, efforts to honor and preserve the legacy of Greenwood, Oklahoma, are gaining momentum in the Senate. Senate Bill 3543, introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and James Lankford (R-OK), seeks to designate Greenwood as a national monument, a bipartisan initiative with widespread support.
The bill’s primary goal is to ensure the preservation of Greenwood’s historical significance under the stewardship of the National Park Service. Senators Booker and Lankford recently testified before the Senate Energy Subcommittee on National Parks, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging Greenwood’s past, particularly the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, a tragic event often overlooked in American history.
Advocates, including descendants of the massacre, such as Tiffany Crutcher and Reuben Gant, have been actively lobbying on Capitol Hill for monument status. Their efforts, supported by the Historic Greenwood District Black Wall Street National Monument Coalition, underscore the urgency of preserving Greenwood’s heritage and fostering its resurgence.
In a statement to the subcommittee, the Coalition stressed the significance of commemorating Greenwood, especially considering the deliberate efforts to erase its memory from America’s collective consciousness. With May 31, 2024, marking 103 years since the massacre, the Coalition urges swift action to honor Greenwood’s enduring legacy. Source: Essence
Notably, the advocacy movement has been bolstered by the testimonies of the last living survivors of the massacre: Viola Fletcher, affectionately known as “Mother Fletcher,” at 110 years old, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, known as “Mother Randle,” at 109. Their poignant testimonies provide a personal and compelling narrative, further underscoring the importance of national recognition for Greenwood’s historical significance.
