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GREENWOOD Dist. – In the early hours of June 1, 1921, the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma—known as Black Wall Street—was engulfed in flames, its thriving Black community obliterated by a violent white mob. Now, 103 years later, Lush Cosmetics and Justice for Greenwood (JFG) are united in a mission to raise $185,000 in support of organizations fighting to ensure the Massacre survivors, descendants and others harmed by slavery’s enduring legacy receive reparations.
We’re living in perilous times for all Black Americans, and no sector of society can afford to retreat or stand by as efforts to roll back the clock on racial progress grow more emboldened every day. Lush’s commitment to supporting Justice for Greenwood in our reparations fight comes at a critical time for the two remaining survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Lessie Benningfield Randle, and Viola Fletcher, who are summoning every ounce of strength they have left to hold on at 110 and 109 years old.
Damario Solomon-Simmons, Founder and Executive Director of Justice for Greenwood and the survivors’ lead attorney
Greenwood: From Prosperity to Devastation in Less Than 24 Hours
Before the Massacre, the Greenwood District of Tulsa was the most prosperous, organized, and successful Black community in United States history.
In a spree of terror from the evening of May 31st through the morning of June 1st, thousands of White Tulsans attacked and entirely destroyed this peaceful, prosperous Black community in one of the most clear and ugly examples of racial injustice and anti-Black racial violence in America’s history. Following the destruction, city officials destroyed all evidence of the Massacre from their records, intentionally burying and whitewashing the event.
Many still do not know the true full history of what happened to the Greenwood Community in 1921, and justice has yet to be served to the two remaining survivors, Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher, and the countless descendants of the Massacre. It’s an honor to work with Justice for Greenwood and share their deep commitment to winning reparations as well as recognition for the ongoing harm with the Lush community. In a time of misinformation and rampant injustice, we believe—now more than ever—that justice is due to the survivors and descendants of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Brandi Halls, Chief Ethics Officer at Lush Cosmetics
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Lush and Justice for Greenwood Partner to Promote Racial Solidarity and Historical Justice
“The Lush partnership with Justice for Greenwood offers business leaders a blueprint for how to show racial solidarity and reject the white supremacist, anti-Black fear mongering that led to Black Wall Street’s decimation and erasure from history books in the first place. Companies across the country should take heed,” says Damario Solomon-Simmons.
To reach its fundraising goal, Lush has launched a limited edition Soap, Brighter Day. With each sale, 100% of the purchase price ($8.50) minus the taxes will support Justice for Greenwood and organizations working to heal histories of harm and build a future free from injustice and inequality. The limited-edition soap will be available at Lush stores and Lush.com on May 31st.
To further tell the story of the Massacre and its survivors, Justice for Greenwood provided Lush exclusive access to those most impacted and their descendants, resulting in a 28-minute documentary, Greenwood Is Still Burning, featuring prominent members of the Greenwood community who work as activists and keepers of the story, fighting for justice that has yet to come.
The mini-documentary will be available to be viewed for free beginning on May 31st on the Lush Cosmetics YouTube channel and on Waterbear, the first interactive streaming platform dedicated to the future of our planet and its people. You can watch the exclusive trailer here.
Awaiting Justice: Oklahoma Supreme Court to Rule on Tulsa Race Massacre Case
Justice for Greenwood’s ongoing litigation against the City of Tulsa, Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Tulsa County Sheriff is at an urgent inflection point, awaiting the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision on whether the case will proceed to trial or be dismissed. This is the final legal pathway for the case and of the utmost importance as a case related to the Tulsa Race Massacre has never been heard to date.