The Department of Justice (DoJ) released a landmark report on Friday detailing the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. This new investigation revisits one of the darkest episodes in American history, rejecting earlier conclusions and acknowledging the systematic, coordinated nature of the attack.
Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for the DoJ’s Civil Rights Division, described the massacre as “a civil rights crime unique in its magnitude, barbarity, and racist hostility.” She noted, “In 1921, white Tulsans murdered hundreds of Greenwood residents, burned their homes and churches, looted their belongings, and locked survivors in internment camps.”
The report, produced by the Emmett Till Cold Case Unit, offers a rigorous, 126-page examination based on survivor testimonies, primary sources, and academic research. It revealed that the violence against Greenwood, also known as Black Wall Street, was not mere mob violence but a “coordinated, military-style attack.” Clarke emphasized, “This report lays bare new information… and shows that the massacre was the result of a deliberate invasion of Greenwood.”
On May 31 and June 1, 1921, white mobs, including Tulsa police officers and deputized civilians, systematically destroyed 35 blocks of Greenwood, disarming and interning Black residents under armed guard. Walter White, a Black civil rights advocate, recounted being told after being deputized, “You could now go out and shoot any [N-word] you see, and the law’ll be behind you.”
The report documents extensive involvement of local law enforcement and city officials, many of whom incited violence or participated directly in the chaos. “As fires consumed Greenwood,” it notes, “Black families fled, leaving everything behind, while white residents looted their homes.”
Despite promises to help Greenwood rebuild, Tulsa’s government obstructed reconstruction efforts, rejected outside aid, and imposed fire codes that displaced Black residents. Clarke highlighted the continued injustice: “Victims were never compensated for their losses or given legal justice.”
While no living perpetrators remain to face prosecution, the report aims to formally document the atrocity and provide a foundation for further dialogue. Clarke plans to meet with survivors, descendants, and community leaders to discuss next steps.
Link: The Guardian
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