They made their dream come true!
Sibling survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Viola “Mother” Fletcher and Hughes “Uncle Red” Van Ellis were the first to embark on a week-long sponsored visit to Ghana with their grandchildren on Saturday, Paris-based France 24 reports.
The program is in partnership with Ghana-based Diaspora Africa Forum and Virginia-based Our Black Truth. This social media platform focuses on communication between people of the African diaspora. The app creators launched the ‘Homecoming’ campaign to support Black Americans financially in reconnecting with their African roots.
“My grandparents are extremely excited to be home for the first time in the motherland,” Fletcher’s grandson, Ike Howard said. “If you haven’t visited Africa, this is the time to come.”
According to The Black Wall Street Times, Michael and Eric Thompson, founders of Our Black Truth, got to work creating the trip when they met the sister and brother during this year’s Centennial of the Massacre. Fletcher mentioned that visiting the continent was a lifelong dream, and the Thompsons wanted to make that dream a reality.
“I had everything a child could need… But within a few horrible hours, all of that was gone,” Fletcher said in an interview with France 24. “Now, after all these years, I’m so happy to be fulfilling a lifelong dream of going to Africa, and I am so pleased that [it] is to beautiful Ghana.”
Fletcher, 107, and Van Ellis, 100, landed in the Ghana’s capital of Accra, waving from their wheelchairs to Ghanaians at the airport cheering “welcome home.” The siblings were given flowers and sashes that read: “Beyond the Return” — referencing the government campaign launched in 2019. They will meet President Nana Akufo-Addo and visit several historic sites while following COVID-19 safety protocols for everyone’s safety.
Both siblings will be further honored during their stay: Mother Fletcher was given the title “Queen Mother” and given the name Naa Lamle and Uncle Red was given the title of chief and named Nii Lante in a traditional Ghanaian ceremony.
“It’s a momentous occasion,” Michael Thompson said in an interview with Tulsa World. “Our goal is to replace some of these horrific memories of Black Wall Street with some great memories.”
The week-long trip is planned to be the first of many that the platform intends to promote for the global Black community.
We love watching them receive the honors they deserve!
Photo Credit: @therealblackwallstreettour/IG