TULSA, Okla. — For generations, descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre have lived with holes in their family histories—names lost, records destroyed, bloodlines broken. Now, a groundbreaking initiative is working to restore what white supremacy tried to erase.
The National Genealogical Society has awarded its 2025 Slam Showcase Award to We Are Greenwood, a Justice for Greenwood initiative that’s reconstructing the family trees of survivors and descendants of the Massacre that decimated Tulsa’s historic Black business district.
““At its heart, this work is about returning dignity to people whose stories were nearly erased,” said Jasmine Henry, Program Director of We Are Greenwood. It’s not simple research. It’s recovering names that were deliberately omitted, stories that were forcibly silenced, and family structures that were violently torn apart. Every tree we build is an act of repair.”
“We Are Greenwood” Project as Reparative Justice
Unlike commercial DNA services that often exclude Black Americans through design or data gaps, the We Are Greenwood project uses a deeply layered, ancestor-forward method. It traces families using handwritten census records, land deeds, Freedmen Rolls, military files, church logs, school rosters, and oral histories—many of which were never digitized due to systemic neglect.
To date, the team has:
- Traced genealogies for over 230 Greenwood descendants.
- Preserved 70 oral history interviews.
- Delivered $31,000+ in honorariums to descendants who shared records, stories, and family heirlooms.
“This award from the National Genealogical Society affirms that rigorous historical research—especially when led by and for Black communities—is essential to reparative justice,” said Damario Solomon-Simmons, Executive Director of Justice for Greenwood. “We’re not just telling stories. We’re restoring identities, families, and the historical record that white supremacy tried to erase.”
Memory as a form of resistance
Descendants like Jacqueline Emerson Weary, granddaughter of John Riggins Emerson Sr., say the process is transformative. “Working with JFG to trace my genealogy has been an enlightening and profound journey. The opportunity to discover one’s roots to serve as a reminder to have hope, courage, and fortitude is truly transformative,” she said.
Beyond individual trees, the project is assembling a publicly accessible roll of known victims and survivors—a first-of-its-kind effort to honor the full scope of the harm. This database will serve as a permanent, factual record to counter whitewashed versions of Tulsa’s past.
Truth fuels the path to repair
This genealogical work underpins Project Greenwood, Justice for Greenwood’s comprehensive 13-point plan for reparations and recovery in Tulsa. From policy reform to economic justice, the plan offers a blueprint for how Tulsa can move forward—with accountability.
“As we continue our conversations with the mayor and city leaders, it’s critical that we have the most complete, accurate record of who Greenwood’s people were—and are,” said Solomon-Simmons. “Repair cannot happen without recognition. And recognition starts with the truth.”
The We Are Greenwood initiative will continue through 2025 as part of the Stories of Us series, inviting descendants from across the U.S. and globe to reconnect with their past.
To support or join the project, visit www.JusticeForGreenwood.org/Genealogy
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