Monroe Nichols, Tulsa’s newly elected and first Black mayor, is proposing a $105 million reparations package to begin restoring what was lost in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Nichols laid out the bold plan during an announcement at the Greenwood Cultural Center on Sunday, June 1, exactly 104 years after the destruction of Tulsa’s once-thriving Greenwood District, known as Black Wall Street. The plan, titled The Road to Repair, aims to not only honor the victims but to invest directly in the economic and cultural rebirth of the community that was nearly erased.
“For 104 years, the Tulsa Race Massacre has been a stain on our city’s history,” Nichols said. “The massacre was hidden from history books, only to be followed by the intentional acts of redlining, a highway built to choke off economic vitality, and the perpetual underinvestment of local, state and federal governments. Now it’s time to take the next big steps to restore.”
What the Reparations Plan Includes
Rather than direct cash payments, Nichols’ plan centers on long-term investment. A private charitable trust would be established to manage $105 million in assets by June 2026. Of that, $60 million would be focused on revitalizing Greenwood’s infrastructure — think restoring historical buildings, supporting Black-owned businesses, and making the district once again a cultural and commercial epicenter.
Another portion of the fund would be dedicated to scholarships and housing assistance for descendants of the massacre.
“The Greenwood District at its height was a center of commerce,” Nichols said. “So what was lost was not just something from North Tulsa or the Black community. It actually robbed Tulsa of an economic future that would have rivaled anywhere else in the world.”
No Red Tape — Just Results
Because the trust will be privately managed, the plan doesn’t require approval from the Tulsa City Council, except in cases where city-owned property would need to be transferred. That streamlined approach could allow for quicker, community-focused action.
An executive director and board of managers will be appointed to guide the trust, with more detailed plans expected to take shape over the next year.
Timing
Nichols’ reparations proposal isn’t just timely, it’s a statement. He made the announcement just months after signing an executive order to formally recognize June 1 as Tulsa Race Massacre Observance Day.
He also acknowledged that the push for reparative justice comes at a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are under national attack, especially from President Donald Trump’s camp.
“The fact that this lines up with a broader national conversation is a tough environment,” Nichols said. “But it doesn’t change the work we have to do.”
A New Chapter for Tulsa
Nichols’ plan marks one of the most ambitious reparations initiatives in the country. While the last two known survivors of the massacre are not receiving direct compensation, the mayor made it clear that the goal is to build lasting systems of opportunity for generations to come.
In a city still healing from a century-old wound, Nichols’ Road to Repair could be the path toward something Greenwood always stood for: Black excellence, resilience, and power.
