Viola Fletcher, Tulsa Race Massacre Survivor, Dies at 111

Viola Fletcher, Tulsa Race Massacre Survivor, Dies at 111

Viola Fletcher, Survivor of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Dies at 111

One of the last known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Fletcher, has died at the age of 111.

Born in 1914 in Comanche County, Fletcher was the daughter of sharecroppers. Her family moved to Tulsa just months before the massacre destroyed the Greenwood District—one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history.

Fletcher Spent Her Life Sharing Her Story

Fletcher devoted decades to speaking publicly about the trauma her family endured. She testified before Congress, telling lawmakers about the lasting impact of the massacre on survivors and their descendants.

Her testimony became one of the most powerful first-person accounts of the Greenwood tragedy.

Legacy of Strength and Historical Witness

Fletcher’s long life allowed her to become a central figure in national conversations about reparations, racial violence, and the importance of preserving survivor narratives.

She was one of only two living survivors until her passing.

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