One of the Last Survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Passes Away, Leaving a Legacy of Resilience and Hope
It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of one of the last known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Mrs. Olivia Hooker. At the age of 103, Mrs. Hooker passed away on November 21, 2018, in her home in New York. Her passing marks the end of an era and a personal tragedy that has long scarred the history of the United States.
Mrs. Hooker was a true survivor, not just of the brutal massacre that destroyed her hometown of Greenwood, but also of the many challenges and obstacles she faced throughout her long life. Born in 1915, she was just six years old when the massacre happened. She and her family witnessed the horrors of the armed white mob attacking their prosperous Black community, burning down homes and businesses, and mercilessly killing and injuring innocent people. Mrs. Hooker’s family managed to escape the chaos and flee by train, but like many others, they lost everything they had worked so hard to build.
Despite this traumatic experience, Mrs. Hooker was determined to not let it define her or hold her back. She went on to graduate from high school at the top of her class, earn a master’s degree from Columbia University, and become the first African American woman to join the United States Coast Guard during World War II. She also became a psychologist, using her own experiences to help others heal from trauma.
But Mrs. Hooker never forgot what happened in Tulsa. She spent her life advocating for the recognition and compensation of the survivors and their descendants. She was a vocal activist and a founding member of the Tulsa Race Riot Commission, which urged the city to acknowledge and make amends for the massacre. Her efforts played a crucial role in the official declaration of the event as a massacre by the state of Oklahoma in 1997.
Her legacy is one of resilience, determination, and hope. Mrs. Hooker’s passing is a reminder of the importance of remembering and learning from our history, even the painful parts. She believed in the power of education and understanding to prevent such tragedies from happening again. As she stated in an interview with The Associated Press in 2011, “We should know about [the massacre] so that we can contribute to the betterment of the city and the nation as a whole.”
Her words hold even more weight today as we continue to face racial injustice and violence in our society. Mrs. Hooker’s story reminds us that we must stand together and fight against hatred and discrimination, no matter what form they come in.
Her passing also shines a light on the overlooked and often untold history of the Tulsa Race Massacre. For many years, it was a mostly suppressed event, with survivors and their descendants being discouraged from speaking about it. But thanks to the efforts of people like Mrs. Hooker, the story is now being brought to the forefront and taught in schools, ensuring that future generations will be aware of this dark chapter in our past.
As we mourn the loss of Mrs. Hooker, we must also celebrate her incredible life and the countless lives she touched. She was a strong, determined, and courageous woman who never gave up and never stopped fighting for justice. She will be remembered as a symbol of hope and resilience, a beacon of light in the face of darkness.
Mrs. Olivia Hooker may no longer be with us, but her legacy and memory will live on. We must honor her by continuing the work she started and striving for a world in which all people are treated with respect, equality, and dignity. We thank her for her unwavering strength, her unwavering commitment, and her unwavering spirit.
Rest in peace, Mrs. Hooker, and may your legacy continue to inspire future generations.
