AURN News with Ebony McMorris

A Beacon of Black Wall Street Passes: Remembering Hughes Van Ellis

Ebony McMorris
October 11, 2023

Tulsa Race Massacre survivors Hughes Van Ellis, left, and Lessie Benningfield Randle ride in a carriage at a remembrance walk during centennial commemorations of the Tulsa Race Massacre, May 28, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla. Van Ellis, who was the youngest known survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre and who spent his latter years pursuing justice for his family and other descendants of the attack on “Black Wall Street,” died on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. He was 102. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Reading Time: < 1 minute

It is a somber page in history as Hughes Van Ellis, the youngest known survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, bid farewell at the age of 102.

A man whose early life was overshadowed by the violent destruction of Tulsa’s Black Wall Street, Mr. Van Ellis not only survived the tragedy but lived as a beacon of resilience, justice, and inspiration.

The World War II veteran, lovingly dubbed “Uncle Red” by those close to him, raised seven children in the aftermath of one of America’s darkest days.

Uncle Red wasn’t just a silent witness. He took action, fighting passionately for justice, compensation, and the acknowledgment of the massacre’s painful legacy. His voice echoed in Congress and courtrooms, advocating for what was lost and what must be remembered.

Now, as we mourn his loss, we are also reminded of the urgent need for justice. With only two survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre still with us, will justice ever come?

Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.

White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris is a native Washingtonian and University of South Carolina alumna. Her passion is mentoring young adults by teaching community empowerment and media education. She is an NAB member and board member of the Thurgood Marshall Center and was presented the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for contributing more than 4,000 hours of community service under the Obama Administration.