The U.S. Department of Justice has released a landmark 126-page report detailing the events of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, describing the two-day attack as a “coordinated, military-style assault” orchestrated by a white mob that decimated Tulsa’s prosperous Black community. The massacre, which claimed approximately 300 lives and destroyed the thriving Greenwood District known as “Black Wall Street,” is now recognized as one of the most brutal episodes of racial violence in American history.
The DOJ’s investigation, conducted over four months, provides a comprehensive timeline of the events that unfolded between May 31 and June 1, 1921. Contrary to the conclusions of a 1921 Bureau of Investigation report, which downplayed the racial motivations and suggested the violence was spontaneous, the DOJ’s findings reveal a premeditated and systematic assault fueled by racial hatred and abetted by local law enforcement.
Greenwood, at the time a vibrant hub of Black-owned businesses and culture, became the target of resentment from white residents of Tulsa and nearby towns. The DOJ’s report highlights how these tensions erupted following a baseless allegation that a Black teenager, Dick Rowland, had assaulted a white female elevator operator. This accusation, sensationalized by local media, led to a white mob gathering outside the courthouse demanding Rowland’s lynching.
The report indicates that a group of Black World War I veterans arrived to defend Rowland and prevent his lynching, which further escalated tensions. Law enforcement compounded the chaos by deputizing hundreds of white residents, many of whom were intoxicated and openly advocating for violence. These newly appointed deputies joined other white Tulsans in an organized assault on Greenwood, burning 35 city blocks, looting homes and businesses, and committing acts of violence against Black residents.
“Contrary to the agent’s 1921 report, the situation did not ‘spontaneously’ grow out of control,” the DOJ report asserts. “What had initially been sporadic and opportunistic violence became systematic due to coordinated efforts among white residents and law enforcement entities.”
The DOJ’s findings also reveal the extent of law enforcement’s involvement in the massacre. Police officers actively participated in the destruction, disarming Black residents and detaining them in makeshift camps under armed guard. By the morning of June 1, the violence and arson attacks had escalated into what the report describes as a “systematic and calculated effort” to obliterate Greenwood.
Adding to the tragedy, the report underscores the lack of support for the victims in the aftermath. City officials blocked outside aid, imposed restrictive fire codes that made rebuilding nearly impossible, and pushed for the area to be rezoned for industrial use. Insurance companies denied claims from Black residents by citing “riot clauses” in their policies, and legal attempts to hold the city accountable failed. As a result, the survivors of Greenwood were left with no recourse for their losses.
While the DOJ’s investigation provides a detailed and damning account of the massacre, it concludes that no legal action can be taken due to the statute of limitations and the deaths of nearly all perpetrators and witnesses. “The report recognizes that some may find the department’s inability to prosecute a painful or dissatisfying outcome,” the DOJ stated. “However, the review recognizes and documents the horrible events that occurred as well as the trauma and loss suffered by the residents of Greenwood.”
The release of the report has sparked mixed reactions, particularly among descendants of survivors. Damario Solomon-Simmons, an attorney representing two survivors, expressed frustration with the DOJ for failing to notify them about the report’s release or a subsequent meeting held at Tulsa’s Historic Vernon AME Church. “Neither my legal team nor the massacre survivors will be able to attend due to time constraints amid our ongoing review and discussion with the DOJ,” Solomon-Simmons said in a statement.
Despite its limitations, the DOJ’s report is being hailed as an important step in documenting the full scope of the massacre and preserving its history. By providing a thorough account of the coordinated attack and its aftermath, the findings aim to ensure that the victims of Greenwood are not forgotten and that their stories continue to shed light on America’s history of racial violence.
