Mom Viola Fletcher, also referred to as Mom Fletcher, one of many final three remaining survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Bloodbath, turned 109 years previous on Wednesday, reviews KUTL.
At simply 7 years previous, Fletcher skilled some of the heinous crimes ever dedicated towards African Individuals when the bloodbath passed off. Alongside along with her mom and three siblings, she hid beneath a pile of garments in her house and escaped the vicious white mob who finally took the lives of over 300 Black folks. Following the tragedy, her household fled from Tulsa to start out a brand new life after dropping all they owned.
In 1932, she married Robert Fletcher and relocated to California throughout World Battle II. She labored within the shipyards, the place she was an assistant welder and laid slabs of metal to construct ships.
On the finish of the struggle, the couple returned to Oklahoma and settled within the metropolis of Bartlesville the place they raised their three youngsters. She retired at age 85.
In a earlier interview with Individuals, Fletcher spoke on the pleasure she feels as a Black lady. “I will say that I am Black and I am proud,” she mentioned. “Nothing you are able to do about who you’re, no matter what you appear to be… We’ve the identical purple blood as different folks.”
When requested what was her secret to residing such a protracted and full life in a 2014 interview, Fletcher had this to say: “We simply do the issues which can be good for you. Sleeping and consuming and exercising. It is no drawback with me.”
Comfortable Birthday, Mom Fletcher!
