The city of Tulsa has announced a $105 million reparations package aimed at addressing the enduring impact of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, a tragic event that resulted in the deaths of up to 300 Black residents and the destruction of a prosperous neighborhood. The plan, named Road to Repair, represents the first large-scale effort to raise private funds for housing assistance, scholarships, and economic development in the affected areas.
Monroe Nichols, Tulsa's first Black mayor, presented the initiative, which seeks to rectify historical disparities created by the massacre, particularly in the Greenwood neighborhood and North Tulsa. A key component of the plan is the establishment of the Greenwood Trust, a private charitable organization aiming to gather $105 million in assets by next spring, coinciding with the 105th anniversary of the massacre.
While the reparations plan does not include direct payments to the last two known survivors of the event, who are currently 110 and 111 years old, the trust's Board of Trustees may consider such payments in the future. Nichols emphasized the importance of restoring what was lost in the community, asserting that “one hundred and four years is far too long for us to not address the harm of the massacre.”
The Tulsa plan is distinctive in that it directly confronts the consequences of a specific historical tragedy, contrasting with broader reparations discussions across the U.S. related to slavery and systemic racism. The movement for reparations gained momentum following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, but significant public opposition to such measures persists.
In Tulsa, the resources of the Greenwood Trust will be allocated to three main areas: a $24 million fund for housing assistance, a $60 million cultural preservation fund for community revitalization, and $21 million dedicated to land acquisition, small business support, and scholarships. The city also plans to release extensive historical records related to the 1921 massacre.
Mayor Nichols will serve as the spokesperson for the Greenwood Trust, while an executive director, funded through private contributions, will manage fundraising efforts. Approval from the City Council will be required for any public funds or city-owned land utilized by the trust. Nichols acknowledged potential concerns from residents about the use of public resources.
Since taking office, Nichols has been focused on addressing the disparities left in the wake of the massacre and has engaged with community organizations and descendants of victims to inform the reparations plan. He highlighted the historical significance of Greenwood, which once boasted a thriving economy and cultural landscape. The destruction of the area during the massacre led to long-lasting economic, educational, and health disparities that have persisted for generations.
In 2021, Tulsa's city government issued an apology for its role in the massacre, while survivors and their descendants have continuously sought justice, including through legal avenues. A federal report released in January described the massacre as a "coordinated, military-style attack" by white citizens. Efforts to find and identify the remains of massacre victims are ongoing, with limited success thus far.