TULSA, Okla. — Angela Rye stood beneath the lights of the Greenwood 120 Award Gala, holding an award she said she could not accept.
“I cannot accept this award with integrity,” Rye said Friday night. “Because telling the truth in this harrowing hour is not sufficient. Educating the stubborn, ignorant, and unwilling is a worthy cause, but it too is insufficient. We have failed the remaining survivors.”
Then Rye turned her attention to Lessie Benningfield Randle, known as Mother Randle, the last known living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
As a child, Mother Randle witnessed the destruction of Greenwood, once one of the most prosperous Black communities in the United States. More than a century later, she continues to represent both the survival of Black Wall Street and the ongoing demand for reparative justice.
“I’m going to ask Mother Randle to hold this award for me until we do right by her and get her the justice she deserves,” Rye said.
The moment became the emotional center of the inaugural Greenwood 120 Gala, presented by Justice for Greenwood and led by its founder, Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons. The event commemorated 120 years since the founding of Greenwood and honored the survivors, descendants, and leaders carrying its legacy forward 105 years after the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Greenwood 120 Award Gala Draws National Voices for Justice and Remembrance
Guests arrived for a red carpet hosted by journalist and author Tiffany Cross. Among those in attendance were Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham, political economist Darrick Hamilton, journalist Michael Harriot, well-being teacher Devi Brown, Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, Jeff Trevillion, Nicka Sewell-Smith, and members of Justice for Greenwood’s leadership.
Co-hosted by civil rights attorney Charles Coleman Jr. and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Karen Hunter, the gala brought together descendants, advocates, elected officials, philanthropists, and cultural leaders for an evening focused on memory, justice, education, and community restoration.
The event honored three national figures whose work reflects Greenwood’s enduring legacy: Rye, national political commentator and co-host of Native Land Pod; John W. Rogers Jr., Greenwood descendant and chairman and co-chief executive officer of Ariel Investments; and Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative.
Before the awards began, Brown guided attendees through a breathing exercise. Damario Solomon-Simmons, president and chief legal counsel of Justice for Greenwood, later took the stage and honored Mother Randle before the evening’s award presentations.
Angela Rye, John Rogers Jr., and Bryan Stevenson Reflect on Greenwood’s Unfinished Fight
Rye received the Truth-Telling & Education Award, presented by Tiffany Cross and Brittany Packnett Cunningham. The award honors leaders who advance public understanding through truth, education, and vision. Rye first thanked those in the room for inspiring generations of Black people “with the self-determination to rebuild from the ashes and rubble despite historic erasure,” before saying she could not fully accept the honor while survivors still await justice.
Her remarks underscored the tension that shaped the evening. The gala was a celebration of Greenwood’s brilliance, but it also served as a reminder that the harm caused by the massacre remains unresolved.
Rogers received the We Are Greenwood Award, presented by Dr. Leslie Stradford. The award honors descendants who preserve and advance Greenwood’s living legacy across generations. Rogers is the great-grandson of J.B. Stradford, whose Stradford Hotel stood as a symbol of Greenwood’s economic power before it was destroyed during the massacre.
In his acceptance speech, Rogers reflected on the resilience of his family and the lasting impact of the massacre. He spoke about the influence of his mother and grandfather, whose efforts to challenge false narratives and defend survivors helped inspire future generations to preserve Greenwood’s history.
Stevenson accepted the Fight for Our Rights & Dignity Award virtually. Presented by Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, the award honors individuals who confront injustice through advocacy, litigation, and moral leadership.
“I’m honored and grateful for this recognition,” Stevenson said. “But mostly I want to say to you — keep on keeping on.”
Stevenson also connected Greenwood’s history to the present struggle over democracy.
“What we have to do today in 2026 is give new meaning, new birth, and a new future to democracy in America,” he said. “If we stand strong, if we keep on keeping on, we shall overcome.”
Mother Randle’s Legacy Looms Over Greenwood 120 Gala
The evening also included a special tribute to Mother Randle, recognizing her courage, perseverance and enduring role in the fight for justice. Her presence gave the gala its deepest meaning, reminding attendees that Greenwood’s history is not distant. It is still living.
Near the end of the program, Justice for Greenwood presented a $25,000 contribution to the Greenwood Trust, which was accepted by Tulsa’s first Black Mayor Monroe Nichols.
“I appreciate the comments about accountability and the fact that we still have a long way to go,” Nichols said. “Even when we can celebrate the successes, we have to remind ourselves that we’re not at the end. We might not even be at the beginning of the end.”
Still, Nichols said the work of Justice for Greenwood gave him hope.
“I do believe we are at the end of the beginning,” he said.
The gala ended with music and an after-party, but the message of the evening remained clear. Greenwood’s legacy is not only a story of Black excellence and survival. It is also a call for justice that has not yet been fully answered.
