Loss of a Matriarch as Viola Ford Fletcher Dies Without Reparations
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NAACP - AOWSAC
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Loss of a Matriarch
It is with a profound sense of grief and unresolved anger that we announce the passing of Viola Ford Fletcher. Known affectionately to the world as “Mother Fletcher,” the oldest survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre died yesterday, November 24, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was 111 years old.
Her passing is a monumental loss for the civil rights community, but it is also a damning indictment of the American legal system. Viola Ford Fletcher died waiting for justice that never came.
Mother Fletcher testifying before the House Judiciary Committee in 2021. (Credit: PBS NewsHour)
A Century of Resilience
Viola was just seven years old on May 31, 1921, when a white mob descended upon the Greenwood District of Tulsa, known as “Black Wall Street.” In her historic testimony before Congress in 2021, she vividly recalled the terror:
For decades, she lived in silence as the massacre was systematically erased from history books. But in her second century of life, she became a global symbol of resilience, traveling to Ghana and testifying on Capitol Hill to demand accountability.
Justice Denied
Despite her courage, the legal system failed her. In June 2024, the Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit brought by Fletcher and her fellow survivors, ruling that their grievances did not constitute a “public nuisance” under state law.
That ruling effectively closed the door on legal restitution during their lifetimes. Viola Ford Fletcher reparations were not just about money; they were about acknowledgement, culpability, and restoring the generational wealth stolen in 1921. Her death highlights the urgent need for federal intervention and a comprehensive reparations policy that goes beyond the limitations of state courts.
Rest in power, Mother Fletcher. We will not let them bury your story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Viola Ford Fletcher?
Viola Ford Fletcher, often called “Mother Fletcher,” was the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. She became a prominent civil rights activist in her later years, advocating for justice and reparations for the destruction of Black Wall Street.
Why were Viola Ford Fletcher reparations denied?
In 2024, the Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the survivors, ruling that the lingering effects of the massacre did not constitute a “public nuisance” under state law. This legal technicality prevented the case from going to trial.
Are there any survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre left?
Following the death of Viola Ford Fletcher in 2025, Lessie Benningfield Randle is the last known living survivor of the 1921 massacre.
What was the Tulsa Race Massacre?
It was a two-day attack in 1921 by a white mob on the prosperous Black neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Black residents and the destruction of over 1,000 homes and businesses.
How can I support the fight for reparations?
You can support the cause by joining the NAACP, donating to the Greenwood Cultural Center, and contacting your representatives to support federal legislation like H.R. 40.
