Tulsa Reparations Coalition facts for kids

The Oklahoma Commission to Study the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 was a special group. It was also known as the 1921 Race Riot Commission. The Oklahoma State Legislature created this commission in 1997. Its main job was to study what happened during the Tulsa race massacre of 1921.

The Commission finished its work and gave its report on February 28, 2001. After this, a group called the Tulsa Reparations Coalition was formed. This group wanted to get help for the Black community in Tulsa. They aimed to get "reparations" for the harm caused. Reparations mean making up for past wrongs, often with money or other support.

What the Commission Recommended

After studying the events, the Commission made five important suggestions to the Oklahoma State Legislature. These suggestions were meant to help the people who lived through the Tulsa Massacre, their families, and the Greenwood community.

• Direct payments to the people who survived the 1921 Tulsa Massacre.
• Direct payments to the children and grandchildren of the survivors.
• A special fund to help students affected by the massacre pay for school.
• Creating a special area in the historic Greenwood District to help businesses grow.
• Building a memorial to honor the victims and rebury any remains found.

How the Commission Worked

The Commission spent three and a half years doing its research. They talked to people who were alive during the massacre. They also looked through old hospital records and reports about people who died.

The final report talked about what happened on May 31 and June 1, 1921. It described how property was destroyed. It also explained how the Black community faced huge social and economic problems. The report confirmed the number of people who died.

The report stated: "Through the night of May 31, and into the morning of June 1, whites virtually destroyed the Greenwood section. There were an undetermined number of deaths, both black and white, with estimates ranging from the official count of 36 to approximately 300. Over 1,000 residences were burned and another 400 looted. The business district of Greenwood was totally destroyed and probably accounts for much of the $4 million in claims filed against the city in 1921."

How Many People Died?

For a long time, people wondered about the exact number of deaths. Some thought hundreds more people died than were officially reported. Eyewitnesses said that many Black men were buried in unmarked graves.

The Commission looked at old reports and death certificates. They confirmed that 26 Black males and 13 white males died. They estimated that over 100 people died in total. The report also included details about the victims.

The Commission did not rule out the idea of mass graves. They even found one possible location based on what an eyewitness said and a special ground search. However, they needed more official permission to dig and find clear proof.