The survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the bloodiest race massacres in American history, have suffered another setback in their long journey to justice and compensation. The ruling of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Wednesday once again cast a shadow over this forgotten history, dimming the already faint light of hope.

The lawsuit was filed in 2020 by two survivors, Viola Fletcher, 110, and Lacey Benningfield Randall, 109, who asked the Tulsa County Sheriff, County Commissioners and the Oklahoma Military Department to be responsible for the riot that killed about 300 black people and compensate for its impact. However, the Supreme Court ultimately ruled that although the survivors’ grievances were legitimate, their claims did not meet the compensation conditions of the state’s public nuisance law.

This ruling is not only a direct blow to the two elderly people, Fletcher and Randall, but also another denial of the neglected and forgotten memory of the racial massacre in American history. The Tulsa Race Massacre is one of the worst racial riots in American history, but it has long been underestimated, ignored, and even forgotten.

“Our country can forget this history, but I can’t.” This is not only the voice of the survivors, but also a deep reflection on the American society on racial issues. Although American society has made some progress in racial equality in recent years, the verdict of the Tulsa Race Massacre once again reminds us that the shadow of racial discrimination and hatred still hangs over the country.

In addition, this verdict also highlights the limitations and contradictions of the American judicial system in dealing with racial issues. On the one hand, it tries to maintain fairness and justice through legal means; on the other hand, it often fails to truly give victims due compensation and apologies for various reasons.

For the two survivors, Fletcher and Randall, they may not have enough time and energy to continue to seek justice for this history. However, their fighting spirit and indomitable perseverance will always inspire future generations to continue to work hard to eliminate racial discrimination and hatred.

With the release of this verdict, the memory of the Tulsa Race Massacre has once again been pushed to the forefront. We hope that American society can face up to this history, give the victims due respect and compensation, and lay a more solid foundation for future racial equality and harmony.