Tulsa Race Massacre Survivors Officially Granted Ghanaian Citizenship

Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Viola Fletcher, a 108-year-old survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has become a Ghanaian citizen alongside her 101-year-old brother, Hughes Van Ellis. The historic event took place on Tuesday, February 28, at Ghana’s embassy in Washington, where Fletcher and Ellis were formally sworn in as citizens of Ghana.

The ceremony was marked by lively music from African musicians and the energetic dancing of young children. It marked the first time that anyone had been sworn in as a citizen at the Ghana Embassy. “I’m so grateful to all. I thank you so much for this honor,” Fletcher, known as Mother Fletcher, said before signing her citizenship papers. Her brother echoed Fletcher. “I’m so thankful to Ghana, and all of you,” Ellis, known as Uncle Red, asserted.

Notable attendees at the ceremony included Oklahoma State Rep. Regina Goodwin, news personality

Tiffany Cross, and Ambassador Erieka Bennett. Ambassador Bennett emphasized that being African is not defined by birthplace, but by one’s connection to the continent.

“You don’t have to be born in Africa to be an African,” the Ambassador declared. “Africa is born in you.”

Cross, the former MSNBC anchor, spoke of feeling the spirit of Africa and her ancestors in the room, while Goodwin expressed pride for Fletcher and Ellis’s sur- vival as proof that the African spirit cannot be broken. - ADVERTISEMENT -

“This is what it’s all about,” Cross related. “The spirit of Africa, it’s powerful and rich history.” cial turnaround of the IMD, successfully retiring more than $40 million in debt. And that’s why “Crains Chicago Business,” characterized me as one of Chicago’s 50 most powerful women.

Fletcher and Ellis’s acquisition of Ghanaian citizenship is a significant milestone in their long and remarkable lives. As survivors of one of the worst race massacres in American history, their journey to Ghana represents a symbolic homecoming and a powerful reminder of the resilience and perseverance of the African spirit.

The ceremony also highlighted the importance of recognizing the contributions of the African diaspora and their continued connection to the continent. As Africa continues to strive for unity and progress, Bennett said events like this serve as an inspiration to all those seeking to embrace their heritage and contribute to a brighter future for the continent.

“Ghana is so welcoming, and it is for everyone,” Bennett stated, concluding that she wanted all throughout the diaspora to know they can visit or even live there. “Welcome home,” she said.

The historic event took place on Tuesday, February 28, at Ghana’s embassy in Washington, where Fletcher and Ellis were formally sworn in as citizens of Ghana.

Suzet notes that the independent government does not receive funding from other governments-- city, county, state or federal. That meant the district was responsible for generating its own revenue. What’s unique and interesting about the structure is that, while it is a unit of local government, the CEO reports to a seven-member board whose members are all politically appointed.

Suzet says, “I think the reason why many people characterize it as a city within a city, is because as the CEO, one has zoning and building authority within the boundaries of the district which is unheard of. Within the city of Chicago, the city’s planning department controls zoning, and the building department controls building except within the Medical District.”

BrINGING SKIll releVaNce

Suzet set out to advance health care, health education, biotechnology, and technology innovation, and then the overarching area of fostering economic growth. In 2017, Rush identified, a 16-year difference in life expectancy cross comparisons between those who live on the west side of Chicago--West Garfield Park, versus the Gold Coast noting that west siders lived 16 years less than their Gold counterparts. The conditions are many but at the base was economics.

“As CEO, I saw that as my community health problem, I had to figure out something that the Medical District could do to help close the gap. We had 40 acres of land in the Medical District that was vacant which was a real estate problem.” The question was how to best utilize the land and leverage the best and high- est use for developing it. She resolved, “I was going to build a life sciences innovation park on 30 acres because I knew of the economic benefits that the life sciences could bring to a depressed area, like the west side of Chicago.” Suzet explains, “One of the most striking statistics that I discovered was that roughly 30 to 40% of life sciences jobs only require a high school diploma or GED. And suddenly, the light bulb went off, I could help to solve my community health problem with my real estate problem.

Coincidently, Trump passed the tax cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which created qualified ‘opportunity zones.’

They were an incentive for wealthy real estate investors and developers. If they would invest in or develop within qualified opportunity zones, all of which were in depressed areas, they could hold the asset for 10 years after which, if they chose to sell the asset, they would not have to pay any taxes on their capital gains from the sale of the asset into perpetuity. Fortunately, a portion of the Medical District, where I had the 30 contiguous acres of vacant land, fell into a qualified opportunity zoning.

The challenge was finding the right real estate developers to develop in her opportunity zone. “But she recalls, “Most weren’t interested in doing ‘life sciences’ construction. And quite honestly, the only real estate developer that wasn’t calling me was Sterling Bay.” She called them, “Well,” she says, “It just so happened that, that they were starting a life sciences division within Sterling Bay.”

How coincidental was that? Suzet joied Sterling Bay in January 2021. Today, Suzet McKinney is Principal and Director of Life Sciences for Sterling Bay, overseeing relationships with the scientific, academic, corporate, tech, and governmental sectors involved in the life sci-

Faith & Religion

ences ecosystem. She also provides the vision and leadership strategy to expand the company’s footprint in ‘life sciences nationally.

She says, “It was a big pivot for me, but one that made sense.” She was excited about the possibilities because Sterling Bay had a big focus on helping Chicago to become a major life sciences market and to expand the company’s footprint in the life sciences nationwide.

wHat are lIFe ScIeNceS eXactlY aND wHat DoeS It MeaN?

Suzet, says, “When I explain it, I say in its simplest terms, life sciences are those things that contribute to the improvement of human health and animal health.”

Suzet shares that the first life sciences building that Sterling Bay has, is the former research building of Children’s Memorial Hospital. “We purchased that building from them and Sterling Bay made improvements to transform the building to what it is now. And we are just finishing up the construction of our second life sciences building, establishing our very large signature development here in Chicago.”