In a poignant turn of events, Hughes Van Ellis, one of the last remaining survivors of the devastating Tulsa race massacre that shook the nation back in 1921, has passed away at the venerable age of 102, succumbing to the ravages of cancer. This solemn confirmation comes from his grieving family, who knew him as a relentless advocate for reparations in the aftermath of the gruesome incident.
Ellis was an unwavering champion for reparations, dedicating decades of his life to fight for the cause on behalf of Tulsa's resilient Black community. However, his grandnephew, Ike Howard, expressed a poignant truth when he somberly stated, "He died waiting on justice."
The family's official statement further emphasized Mr. Ellis's unwavering commitment to justice, revealing that just days before his passing, he urged them to persevere in their struggle. Even in the throes of death, his unwavering sense of morality and justice burned brightly. As Mr. Ellis lay on his deathbed, his family reassured him with his own resounding words, "We are one," and they tenderly conveyed their love.
The Tulsa race massacre stands as a dark and chilling chapter in American history, representing one of the most harrowing instances of racially-motivated violence in the United States. The cataclysmic event was ignited when a marauding white mob descended upon the thriving Greenwood district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, often referred to as "Black Wall Street" due to its status as one of the most prosperous Black communities in the country at the time.
In the wake of this devastating onslaught, more than 35 city blocks, comprising homes, businesses, and churches, were reduced to smoldering ruins, pillaged and set ablaze by the frenzied mob. Historical accounts suggest that the toll in human lives may have reached up to 300.
The once-vibrant Black Wall Street, however, never fully recovered from the ashes. By the close of the 20th century, any lingering hopes of revival were brutally dashed as city planners, invoking eminent domain, seized control of the land.
Affectionately known as "Uncle Red" by those who held him dear, Hughes Van Ellis survived this horrific episode as an infant, miraculously escaping the clutches of the marauding mob alongside his family. Over the years, he evolved into a proud military veteran, serving with valor in a racially-segregated U.S. Army battalion during World War II. His family lovingly remembers him as a devoted patriarch.
In the year 2021, Ellis testified before the U.S. Congress alongside other survivors, shedding light on the enduring trauma inflicted upon his family and community by the events of a century ago. Addressing a House judiciary subcommittee, he passionately implored, "You may have been taught that when something is stolen from you, you can seek recourse in the courts to be made whole. You can seek justice through the legal system. Regrettably, this was not our reality. The courts in Oklahoma turned a deaf ear to our pleas. The federal courts declared us too late."
He went on to lament, "We were made to feel that our struggles were unworthy of justice. We were deemed of lesser worth than our white counterparts, regarded as incomplete Americans. We bore witness to the stark reality that in the United States, not all men were equal before the law. We saw that when Black voices clamored for justice, they fell on deaf ears."
With palpable emotion, Ellis added a heartfelt plea, "I implore you, do not allow me to depart from this world without justice, as countless other survivors of the massacre have."
Shortly thereafter, President Joe Biden marked May 31, 2021, as a day of solemn remembrance for the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Despite Ellis's active involvement as a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the city of Tulsa and seven other defendants, seeking reparations for the massacre's victims, an Oklahoma judge dismissed the case in July. Consequently, no financial reparations have been granted to the survivors of the massacre, their descendants, or the descendants of the victims.
Furthermore, the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum poignantly notes that "not one of these heinous crimes was ever prosecuted or met with retribution by any level of government: municipal, county, state, or federal."
At present, only two survivors of the massacre are known to still be living—Ellis's elder sister, the remarkable 109-year-old Viola Fletcher, who shared his harrowing escape; and Lessie Benningfield Randle, who is 108 years old.