Juneteenth

One hundred years ago, on May 31, 1921, a white mob descended on the Greenwood District of Tulsa, OK, killing an estimated 300 Black residents and burning down the 35 square blocks of “Black Wall Street” in what is now known as the Tulsa Race Massacre. Greenwood had stood as a symbol of Black prosperity and its violent destruction was long excluded from history books and newspaper records. When it was referred to, the massacre was called a “race riot” in a deliberate attempt to blame Black residents and to ensure they would be denied insurance monies to rebuild. On May 19, 2021, Viola Fletcher, 107, Hughes Van Ellis, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, 106, survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre, testified before Congress seeking justice for the murders, destruction, and cover-up – carried out by private citizens and the government alike – and for the effects Black residents still face today. 
 
Slavery was one of the darkest and most abominable practices ever to be endorsed by and carried out in the United States. Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, was created to celebrate its ending. But Juneteenth is also a time to grapple with slavery's profound after-effects, which continue to this day. In the 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre and the 156 years since the end of slavery in this country, social inequity, deadly racism, and injustice remain part of the Black experience in the United States. This Juneteenth, we at Morrison Cohen reflect on the determination and courage of Viola Fletcher, Hughes Van Ellis, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, and consider how we can contribute to the fight against racism. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating, commemorating, and reflecting on this important day.