Eyewitness to American History Gives Testimony to the World

Don't Let Them Bury My Story, The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Her Own Words by Viola Ford Fletcher & her grandson, Ike Howard

Mocha Media Publishing, August 2023

non-fiction autobiography & history

This gripping, emotionally grueling, compact autobiography begins and ends with Mother Fletcher's and her brother Mr. Hugh "Uncle Redd" Van Ellis's May 2021 testimony to the U.S. Congress regarding the massacre of Black people in the Greenwood community in Tulsa, Oklahoma in May 1921. Divided into three parts, her story personalizes the history of the United States in multiple layers: ideals, strengths, weaknesses, tragedies, triumphs, and wisdom earned the hard way. The foreword by her brother and the introduction by her grandson provide more essential context.

Mother Fletcher, her family, and her community were hunted, traumatized,and temporarily erased from the official historical record. Don't Let Them Bury My Story ends with an appendix that lists "known Massacres of Black Americans" from 1863 to 2015 along with a call to action for everyone, regardless of ethnicity or skin color. This book is worthy of being required reading for all high school and college students, everyone over the age of sixteen. For those of us who are serious about eradicating racism, Mother Fletcher's autobiography offers proof of why doing so is necessary.

More information about her foundation found here: https://www.violafordfletcherfoundation.org/

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