The debate over reparations for 1921 Race Massacre

TULSA, OK – The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is a tragic fact, something that virtually everyone acknowledges is a dark and shameful chapter in the city’s history. Somewhat more controversial is the question of what, 100 years on, is owed to the families of survivors. The issue of potential reparations will be debated at an upcoming public event.

Tulsa Debate League and the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues will host a free, virtual public debate and dialogue on Thursday, April 22, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., about the need for reparations for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

The event features a live debate between two Tulsa Public Schools student debaters and a panel discussion, moderated by attorney, author, and consultant Hannibal B. Johnson, between John Rogers, Jr., founder and Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments and Obama Inaugural Committee Co-chair, and Michele Roberts, Executive Director of the National Basketball Association Players Association.

“This public debate is an opportunity for our students to show the community – and the country – the power of constructive dialogue and deliberation around this critical issue: the legacy of racial trauma in America,” said Ross Faith, Tulsa Debate League’s Executive Director. “By offering a stage for students and important public intellectuals like Mr. Johnson, Ms. Roberts, and Mr. Rogers to share, we hope to elevate the dialogue and spotlight this important discussion leading up to the Centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.”

The event will begin with a 20-minute student debate about the best method for repairing the damage of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. A panel discussion will follow, exploring the issues raised by students in the debate.

As the leading expert on the history of Greenwood and the Tulsa Race Massacre, Hannibal B. Johnson will serve as moderator. His newest book, Black Wall Street 100, chronicles Greenwood’s hundred-year history since the Massacre.

John Rogers, Jr. is the founder and CIO of the largest, minority-run mutual fund in America. His great-grandfather, JB Stradford, owned the Stradford Hotel, which was destroyed in the Massacre. He has spoken publicly, including in congressional testimony, on the legacy of the Massacre and the need to address systemic inequality and build Black wealth.

Michele Roberts is the Executive Director of the NBA Players Association, the first woman to head a major professional sports union in the United States. She has been at the forefront of helping players raise social consciousness around political activism, mental health, and racial injustice. Recognized as one of the best trial attorneys in the country, Roberts was an instrumental member of the legal team led by Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. of Harvard Law School that sought reparations of Massacre survivors in federal court in Tulsa in 2005.

Registration for the event is free and will stream live. The link to register is https://hopin.com/events/iresolve-tulsa.to learn more about the Tulsa Debate League, visit tulsadebate.org.