Viola Fletcher facts for kids

Viola Fletcher, also known as Mother Fletcher, was born on May 10, 1914. She is the oldest person still alive who survived the Tulsa race massacre. She is also a supercentenarian, which means she is over 110 years old. One hundred years after the massacre, she spoke to the U.S. Congress. She talked about the importance of reparations for the harm caused by the massacre.

Viola Fletcher's Early Life

Viola Fletcher was born on May 10, 1914, in Comanche, Oklahoma. Her parents were Lucinda Ellis and John Wesley Ford. She was the second oldest of eight children. Her younger brother, Hughes Van Ellis, was a baby during the massacre. He passed away in 2023 at 102 years old. Viola's childhood home did not have electricity. Before moving to Tulsa, her family worked as sharecroppers, farming land owned by others. In Tulsa, her family went to St. Andrew, a Black Baptist church.

Viola told Congress that she had to leave school after the 4th grade. This was because of her family's situation after the massacre.

Her Experience During the Massacre

At the time of the massacre, Viola's family lived in Greenwood. This was a rich Black neighborhood in Tulsa. It was often called "Black Wall Street." Viola was seven years old when the massacre happened. She was sleeping on May 31, 1921, when the violence began. Her mother woke the family, and they quickly ran away. They lost everything they owned except the clothes they were wearing.

Viola Fletcher is the oldest known survivor of the massacre. Even today, she still sleeps sitting up on her couch with the lights on. This shows how much the event affected her.

Seeking Justice: Reparations

In 2020, Viola Fletcher and other survivors took legal action. They sued the city of Tulsa and other groups. They were seeking reparations, which are payments for past harm. However, a judge dismissed the lawsuit in July 2023.

Viola Fletcher spoke to the U.S. Congress on May 19, 2021. She talked about reparations. Her brother Hughes, who was 100, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, who was 106, also spoke. Viola told Congress about her memories:

"I will never forget the violence of the white mob when we left our home,” she said, “I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire. I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams."

She also said that the city of Tulsa had used images and names of victims to make money for the city.

In 2022, Viola, her brother, and Lessie Benningfield Randle received $1 million. This money came from a kind person named Ed Mitzen from New York.

Visit to Ghana

In August 2021, Viola Fletcher and her brother Hughes traveled to Ghana. They met with the Ghanaian president, Nana Akufo-Addo. While there, Viola was honored as a queen mother. She was given several Ghanaian names. One name, Naa Lamiley, means "Somebody who is strong. Somebody who stands the test of time." Another name, Naa Yaoteley, means "the first female child in a family or bloodline."

Sharing Her Story

In 2014, Viola Fletcher was interviewed for an oral history project. This project was done by Oklahoma State University. It helped record her memories for future generations.

In 2023, Viola wrote a book with her grandson. It is called Don’t Let Them Bury My Story. This book shares her life story and experiences.

Viola Fletcher's Personal Life

In 1932, when she was 18, Viola married Robert Fletcher. They moved to California. There, they both worked in shipyards. Viola worked as an assistant welder. After World War II, they moved back to Oklahoma. They raised three children. Viola also worked cleaning houses until she was 85 years old.

Viola Fletcher is also known as Mother Fletcher or Mother Viola Fletcher. On May 10, 2024, Viola turned 110 years old. This made her a supercentenarian.