The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, which resulted in the destruction of a prosperous Black neighborhood in Oklahoma and the deaths of up to 300 individuals, was characterized by the Justice Department in a recent report as “a coordinated, military-style attack” rather than an uncontrolled mob. This report, released on Friday, is the first comprehensive federal account of the events that took place in the Greenwood neighborhood on May 31 and June 1, 1921.
While the report concluded that no living individuals could face prosecution for the massacre, it emphasized the extent of the violence inflicted upon the community. Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for civil rights, highlighted the episode as a unique civil rights crime marked by its magnitude and brutality against the Greenwood residents. The white residents of Tulsa were described as having murdered hundreds of Black individuals, destroyed their homes and churches, looted their possessions, and confined survivors in internment camps.
The legal findings within the report suggested that had contemporary civil rights laws been in effect during 1921, federal charges for hate crimes could have been directed toward both public officials and private citizens involved in the massacre.
Historically, the massacre has been one of the most severe instances of racial violence in the U.S., yet it remained largely unknown for decades due to systemic efforts to suppress the narrative and survivor silence. The Justice Department initiated this investigation under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, allowing for examination of violent crimes resulting in death prior to 1980. The investigation involved discussions with survivors and their descendants, analysis of firsthand accounts, and a review of a previous Justice Department report that inaccurately attributed blame to Black men for the violence.
The new 123-page report corrects these misconceptions and details the massive scale of destruction. The violence reportedly began with a baseless accusation against a young Black man, Dick Rowland, leading to an inflamed situation at the courthouse where a lynch mob demanded his execution.
According to the report, after a local newspaper sensationalized Rowland's arrest, a white crowd formed outside the courthouse. Black residents attempted to intervene to protect Rowland, but their efforts were met with hostility from the white mob, which viewed their actions as a threat to social order. The situation escalated with police support for a makeshift militia of white residents, many of whom were armed and driven by the desire to retaliate against the Black community, known as "Black Wall Street."
The report categorized the initial violent outbreak as “opportunistic,” but by the morning of June 1, the attacks had escalated into a systematic and coordinated assault that involved approximately 10,000 white residents. This organized violence resulted in the burning and looting of 35 city blocks.
In the aftermath, survivors faced immense challenges in rebuilding their lives, receiving little assistance from the city. Historians emphasize that the repercussions of the massacre continue to resonate through generations.
In recent years, descendants of survivors and community activists have sought justice, including a lawsuit for reparations that was dismissed by Oklahoma justices in June. The city has undertaken efforts to excavate the cemetery for the remains of massacre victims. Additionally, a commission was established in 2024 to assess the enduring harms of the massacre and to propose solutions, with results expected in the near future.