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John Melvin Alexander, Tulsa, Oklahoma, b. December 22, 1919

My parents Walter S. And Ida Jones Alexander moved to Tulsa from Guthrie, Oklahoma. They lived at 1621 North Norfolk and I was born there. During the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, all houses around our house burned to the ground, but our house was not touched. Instead of locking the doors to his house before he and his family fled the on-coming white mob, Dad left his house unlocked. He said the Lord told him to leave the house unlocked. Dad had no guns in the house, so when the mobsters, and the militia, went into the house, they just left it like it was. Dad and his family fled the mobs by going up to Pine Street. But we were interrupted by the National Guards who picked up the men and took them to the Ball Park on 11th Street where Home Depot is located today. The women and children were taken to Brady Theater or to churches. After a day or two, the men were released to their white employers and the men found their wives and children in whatever shelter they were, and those that were lucky and had homes to return to, like my father, returned home. Dad was so kindhearted that he was always referred to as "the kind-hearted Brother Alexander." Well my kind-hearted father let people who has lost their homes come to our house and he let them bring the things they had taken with them as they fled. He let as many as could fit in come to our house.

Dad didn't talk much about the riot for many years, but in later years he did begin to talk about it. He spoke of how God had guided him to leave his house open that day and how his obedience to God had saved his house. He also talked a lot about a certain photograph of the riot. What photo?

I often think about that riot, and when I'm asked whether I favor reparations, I say yes, I certainly do! If Japanese Americans got reparations for their suffering during World War II, we black Tulsa Race Riot survivors deserve it for our suffering in 1921. We went on and fought for this country, the USA, in World War II. I was a steward on war ships. Another riot survivor from Tulsa, Samuel McGowan, was at a naval air station with me. I fought in the Coral Sea in the East and then I was transferred to Anzio in Europe. Yes, I did my duty. I feel I deserve reparations!



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