The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, in which a white mob destroyed the prosperous Black neighborhood of Greenwood—known as “Black Wall Street”—left behind not just the smoldering ruins of homes and businesses, but a century of unanswered questions and unpaid debts. Nearly 105 years later, the fight for justice and reparations for survivors and descendants remains one of the most urgent and emotionally charged civil rights battles in American history. At the forefront of this struggle is civil rights attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons, whose new book, Redeem a Nation: The Century-Long Battle to Restore the Soul of America, frames reparations not just as a legal or financial obligation, but as a moral imperative for the nation’s soul.
Solomon-Simmons, who grew up in a single-mom household and later became a University of Oklahoma football letterman before earning advanced degrees in African and African-American Studies, has dedicated his career to pursuing justice for those harmed by systemic racism. His work reflects a broader movement in Tulsa and across the country to confront the legacy of the massacre, which saw an estimated 300 Black Tulsans killed, thousands displaced, and millions of dollars in property destroyed. The book and the ongoing legal and political battles for reparations are part of a century-long effort to acknowledge this history and provide restitution for its lasting impact.
Yet the path to justice has been fraught with legal setbacks and political delays. Earlier this year, the Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed a landmark lawsuit brought by the last known survivors of the massacre—Viola Fletcher, Leslie Benningfield Randle, and Hughes Van Ellis—along with descendants, against the City of Tulsa and other defendants. The ruling dealt a major blow to their quest for accountability, though advocates say the fight is far from over. “This is not just about money,” Solomon-Simmons has said. “It’s about restoring the dignity of a community that was systematically stripped of everything.”
The Legal Battle and Its Stakes
The lawsuit, filed in 2020 by the survivors and descendants, sought compensation for the physical and emotional harm caused by the massacre and the subsequent decades of economic and social marginalization. The plaintiffs argued that the city and other entities were complicit in the violence and had failed to provide redress. While the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the case in June 2024 was a setback, it did not extinguish the broader push for reparations. The case had already prompted national conversations about how cities and states can address historical injustices, and it highlighted the unique challenges of seeking justice for crimes committed over a century ago.
In response to the legal challenges and the growing demand for reparations, Tulsa’s mayor, G.T. Bynum, established the Beyond Apology Commission in August 2024. This commission, formed through an executive order, is tasked with reconciling, restoring, and uniting Tulsa through a plan for shared prosperity. Its recommendations, released in early 2025, focus on housing, economic development, and intergenerational wealth-building for survivors, descendants, and residents of North Tulsa and Greenwood. The commission’s work is seen as a critical step forward, even as legal avenues remain closed.
What Reparations Could Look Like
While the specifics of reparations for the Tulsa Race Massacre are still under debate, the Beyond Apology Commission’s recommendations offer a glimpse into potential solutions. These include:
- Direct financial compensation for survivors and descendants
- Investment in housing and economic development in Greenwood and North Tulsa
- Education and public commemorations to ensure the history of the massacre is not forgotten
- Policy changes to address systemic discrimination and promote equity
The commission’s housing recommendations, released in February 2025, aim to create opportunities for wealth-building among affected communities. Mayor Bynum and his successor, Mayor Monroe Nichols, have both emphasized the need for a “Road to Repair” to address the systemic impacts of the massacre. Nichols’ plan, announced in June 2025, includes the creation of the Greenwood Trust, a focal point for community healing and economic revitalization.
The Road Ahead
The legal dismissal of the reparations lawsuit has not silenced the call for justice. Advocates and survivors continue to push for legislative and executive action at both the state and local levels. Solomon-Simmons and other activists are working to keep the issue in the public eye, ensuring that the conversation about reparations does not fade. The next major checkpoint is the implementation of the Beyond Apology Commission’s recommendations and the ongoing efforts of the Greenwood Trust to translate policy into tangible change for survivors and descendants.
For many, the fight for reparations is about more than money—it’s about acknowledgment, healing, and the promise of a future where such atrocities are never repeated. As Solomon-Simmons writes in his book, “Reparations are not just about the past. They are about the kind of America we want to be.”
If you or someone you know is affected by the legacy of historical trauma, resources and support are available. For information on local and national reparations efforts, visit the official City of Tulsa updates here. To learn more about the Beyond Apology Commission’s work, visit their recommendations page.
Share your thoughts on reparations and how communities can move forward in the comments below.
