Activism
Living to Tell the Tale: 109-Year-Old Tulsa Race Massacre Survivor Releases Memoir
A memoir written by the oldest survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre has assured that her testimony before the U.S. Congress two years ago won’t be the last we hear of Viola Ford Fletcher. In March, two months before the 102nd anniversary of an armed white mob’s destruction of Greenwood, a thriving Black community of Tulsa, Okla., Mocha Media Inc. proudly announced the release of Fletcher’s book, “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Her Own Words.”
By Tamara Shiloh
A memoir written by the oldest survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre has assured that her testimony before the U.S. Congress two years ago won’t be the last we hear of Viola Ford Fletcher.
In March, two months before the 102nd anniversary of an armed white mob’s destruction of Greenwood, a thriving Black community of Tulsa, Okla., Mocha Media Inc. proudly announced the release of Fletcher’s book, “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Her Own Words.”
This groundbreaking memoir marks the 102nd anniversary of the tragic event on May 30, 1921, that remains the worst incident of racial violence in U.S. history.
Co-authored by her grandson, Ike Turner, Mother Fletcher, as she is affectionately known, takes readers on a poignant and harrowing journey through her experiences as the oldest survivor and last living witness of the Tulsa Massacre of 1921.
From being a terrified 7-year-old awakened in the middle of the night to flee her burning Greenwood neighborhood, to her role as a 107-year-old matriarch testifying before Congress, Fletcher seeks justice for the families affected by this immense tragedy.
Fletcher’s vivid prose recounts the violence she witnessed and experienced during the massacre. Memories of the white mob, shootings of Black men, bodies in the streets, burning buildings, and the sound of airplanes overhead haunt her to this day. While the nation may have forgotten this history, Fletcher carries its weight, determined to ensure it is never buried or erased.
Tulsa in 1921 was deeply segregated but Greenwood’s ‘Black Wall Street’ thrived as a prosperous business district, home to 10,000 Black residents. However, dreams of generational wealth were shattered when racial violence claimed hundreds of Black lives. Survivors, who lost loved ones and millions of dollars in property, were forcibly interned in camps without accountability for the atrocities committed against them.
These traumatized citizens faced a hostile country that used military force against them and threatened their lives if they shared their stories. For 102 years, survivors patiently awaited acknowledgment, a voice, and restoration.
Fletcher lived in fear and silence until her grandson, Ike Howard, a retired military veteran, encouraged her to conquer her fears and share her truth. Recognizing the significance of her experiences, he believed her longevity was a blessing, enabling her to reveal the truth about Tulsa.
Published by Mocha Media Inc., a Black-woman-owned company committed to diverse content, “DON’T LET THEM BURY MY STORY” will be released on July 4, 2023, Fletcher’s 109th birthday.
Mocha Media Inc., CEO Margo Ochoa admires Mother Fletcher’s contribution to keeping the Tulsa Race Massacre’s survival story alive. The publishing model not only provides a platform for marginalized writers but also offers immediate royalties, contributing to Fletcher’s and her family’s economic restoration.
To celebrate the memoir’s release, Fletcher, Howard, and Van Ellis, Fletcher’s “baby brother” who wrote the foreword, embarked on a nationwide tour during spring and summer 2023. The tour allows audiences to engage with these survivors, hear their stories firsthand, and honor the resilience of those affected by the Tulsa Race Massac
“Don’t Let Them Bury My Story” is not just a memoir; it’s a testament to the power of storytelling and the preservation of history. Fletcher’s courage and determination inspire future generations, emphasizing our collective responsibility to confront past injustices and strive for a more equitable future.
Pre-order your copy now at www.multiculturalbookstore.com.
Activism
Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association
The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”
Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association
The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.
Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).
Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.
According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.
The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”
Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.
EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”
Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.
An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”
The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.
The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”
The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”
Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.
Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.
Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of August 26 – September 1, 2026
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of August 26 – September 1, 2026
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of August 19 – 25, 2026
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of August 18 – 25, 2026
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Longtime BWOPA Member Brendalyn Goodall Appointed to California Workforce Development Board
Jackie Wright Champions Bay Area Stories, Filmmakers and Cultural Institutions
Chef Sharon Lee Blends Culinary Excellence, Education and Empowerment
‘Passing a Law Isn’t The Finish Line’: California Assembly Evaluates Implementation, Results
OPINION: Angie Nixon Will Turn You Into a Democratic Socialist If Donald Trump Hasn’t Already
Gov. Newsom Signs Law Shielding Immigration Aid Workers From Doxing Threats
BOOK REVIEW: Every Inch of a Lady
Big City Mayors Ask for “Yes” Vote on Housing Bond Measure; Conservatives Say “No”
Madeline M. Turner: The Inventor Who Made Juicing Easier
Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Blasts California New Tire Rules; Newsom Hits Back
Frontier Airlines’ Return to Oakland Airport Brings Flights, Jobs and Opportunity
Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber Urges Californians to Vote Early as Voter ID Battle Intensifies
Gov. Newsom’s Latest Appointees Include Sacramento Advocate for Formerly Incarcerated Students; State’s New Tech Chief
Oakland Coliseum Project Opens Door for Small Businesses to Build Bigger
Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association
Department of Homeland Security Demands California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber Scrub Voter Rolls
New Judge Could Decide if Karmelo Anthony Gets a New Trial
Oakland Children’s Hospital Workers and Patients Rally for Pediatric Medical Care
“The Power to See Threats Sooner”: Gov. Newsom, Safety Officials Showcase California’s Investments in Hi-Tech Wildfire Prevention
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Celebrates New North Atlantic Regional Director
Surveillance Pricing Fight: State Senate Debates Bill Banning Retailers from Using AI to Set Prices Based on a Buyer’s Profile
Mount Zion MBC, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Partner to Bring 29,000 Meals to Alameda County
California Sen. Padilla Joins Colleagues to Introduce Bill Imposing Term Limits on Supreme Court Justices
Less Affluent School Districts, Including Sacramento City, Face Threat of State Takeover
Car Wash Workers Cope with Lingering Impacts of ICE Raids
Starting This Summer, California Car Buyers Can Get an Instant $3500 Off the Cost of Electric Vehicles
COMMENTARY: You Are Already Paying for the AI Boom
California Bill Would Let Abuse Victims Use Trauma as Legal Defense for Violent Crime
Fed Court to Decide Landmark First Amendment Case
Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Law Streamlining Affordable Housing Rules
The Conversation With Al McFarlane 6/23/26
Media Monday 6/22/26
LIVE! ASK ALMA! — TUES. 6.23.26 7PM EST
Car Buying Secrets: 4 Hidden Checks Before You Sign!
Is This 550 HP Charger Worth YOUR Money? AutoNetwork Review
Celebrating Juneteenth – Frederick Douglass on education and resistance
LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 6.19.26 7PM EST
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Parking, Safety, and 360 View #shorts
2025 Ioniq 5 New Wiper & Powerful Performance! #shorts
Electric SUV Range: Is 259 Miles Enough? #shorts
EV Charging: How Fast Can You Charge an Electric Vehicle? #shorts
Biometric Cooling… Messaging Seats…Come on! 2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph 4WD
Charged Up: Witness the Magic of a Fully Electric Car! #shorts
Range Rover Sport PHEV Included…: See What’s Inside This Luxury SUV! #shorts
Invisible Hood View: Perfect Parking with X-Ray Vision! #shorts
-
Featured4 weeks agoDepartment of Homeland Security Demands California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber Scrub Voter Rolls
-
Environment4 weeks ago“The Power to See Threats Sooner”: Gov. Newsom, Safety Officials Showcase California’s Investments in Hi-Tech Wildfire Prevention
-
Featured4 weeks agoCalifornia Sen. Padilla Joins Colleagues to Introduce Bill Imposing Term Limits on Supreme Court Justices
-
Community3 weeks agoLess Affluent School Districts, Including Sacramento City, Face Threat of State Takeover
-
Business4 weeks agoCar Wash Workers Cope with Lingering Impacts of ICE Raids
-
Commentary3 weeks agoESSAY: California Can Close Its Colorectal Cancer Gap
-
Community4 weeks agoAs Part of Your Back-to- School Checklist, Vaccinate
-
Business4 weeks agoOakland ‘Port Serves as a Powerful Engine for Good Jobs and Economic Development
