Maurice Willows - The Tulsa Race Massacre

Maurice Willows was a Red Cross leader who organized emergency relief for survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Maurice Willows was born April 16, 1876, in Clinton (Ontario), Canada. In 1921, he worked for the Red Cross in St. Louis, Missouri. That spring, he received a letter describing a terrible event in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On May 31 and June 1, 1921, white mobs attacked the African American community of Greenwood in what became known as the Tulsa Race Massacre.

The violence began after a young Black man, Dick Rowland, was accused of assaulting a white woman, Sarah Page, in an elevator. Although the story was uncertain, rumors of a lynching spread quickly. Armed Black men went to the courthouse to protect Rowland, while white crowds gathered to watch or join in. A gunshot set off chaos. For nearly 24 hours, white mobs looted and burned Greenwood, attacking residents and businesses.

The Greenwood District, often called “Black Wall Street,” had been one of the wealthiest Black communities in the nation. It had hotels, schools, shops, doctors, and even a hospital. In less than two days, more than 35 blocks of this thriving neighborhood were destroyed. Over 190 businesses, many churches, and the only Black hospital in Tulsa were reduced to ashes. At least 800 people were injured, 6,000 were arrested or detained, and an estimated 10,000 were left homeless. Property losses were valued at more than $2 million at the time, which equals about $31 million today.

In the days after the massacre, authorities forced thousands of Black residents into internment camps. They could only be released if a white employer vouched for them, and many were made to clean up the destruction caused by white rioters. Meanwhile, local leaders and newspapers quickly spread a false story that blamed Black residents for starting the violence. The official investigation even claimed the white crowds had only gathered “out of curiosity.” White rioters who looted or killed faced no punishment.

Into this crisis stepped Maurice Willows. He was the first Red Cross official sent to Tulsa. At that time, the Red Cross usually only helped after natural disasters like floods or fires, not man-made ones. But Willows saw how badly the people of Greenwood needed aid. He contacted Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C., urging them to treat the massacre like a natural disaster. Within a day, the Red Cross approved his request, making history.

The mayor of Tulsa placed the entire relief effort in the hands of the Red Cross. Willows and his team set up a makeshift hospital and school. They provided tents, food, clothing, and medical care to thousands of survivors. Many families lived in Red Cross tents for over a year while trying to rebuild their lives. Willows also raised $100,000 to support long-term relief work, equal to millions today.
City leaders tried to block the rebuilding of Greenwood. The Real Estate Exchange suggested rezoning the area for factories. Officials passed strict fire codes that made it too expensive for most Black residents to rebuild their homes. Insurance companies refused to pay claims, saying their policies did not cover riots. Despite these barriers, community leaders like lawyer B.C. Franklin fought back in court and won. Their victory forced the city to allow rebuilding.

Throughout this time, Willows stood with Greenwood’s residents. He not only organized aid but also helped record what had happened. His reports, photographs, and statistics preserved an honest account of the massacre at a time when many tried to erase it. Survivors later called the Red Cross workers “angels of mercy.”

Maurice Willows’ actions set an important precedent. For the first time, the Red Cross provided major disaster relief for a man-made tragedy of racial violence. His leadership gave thousands of survivors the support they needed in the aftermath of destruction. Even as Tulsa’s leaders tried to blame the victims and deny them justice, Willows worked to bring order out of chaos and care to those who had lost everything.

The people of Greenwood, with help from Willows and the Red Cross, rebuilt their community almost entirely on their own. Despite enormous obstacles, their determination allowed Black Wall Street to rise again.
Maurice Willows is remembered as a man who acted with courage and compassion during one of the darkest moments in American history.

References:
“The Aftermath: Oklahoma Historical Society.” Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS, www.okhistory.org/learn/trm5.
“Greenwood Knowledge Cards.” John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation, 29 Dec. 2022, greenwoodresources.org/portfolio-items/greenwood-knowledge-cards/.
Red Cross Relief after the Tulsa Massacre, www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/view-article-2021-02/se-85012120.pdf.
Willows, Maurice. “1921 Red Cross Report December 30th.” Museum of Tulsa History, www.tulsahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1921-Red-Cross-Report-December-30th.pdf.

Key words:
Civil Rights, Justice, Courage, Perseverance, Responsibility, Repair the World – Tikkun Olam, Challenge Injustices, Make a Difference

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