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WASHINGTON, D. C. – National Bankers Association CEO and President Nicole Elam, Esq. released the following statement today regarding the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre:

One hundred years ago, an economically vibrant Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was burned to the ground. Dubbed the Black Wall Street, the community had achieved business success and financial security along its Greenwood Avenue despite the burden of Jim Crow laws and the doctrine of “separate, but equal.” Over two days, the generational wealth of the community was destroyed and denied. Today, one hundred years later, the community has not fully recovered, and restitution has not been attained.The National Bankers Association (NBA) stands with the descendants of Tulsa’s Greenwood community as they honor their ancestors who endured unconscionable pain, suffering, and ultimately death. These were Black community leaders, bank owners, and entrepreneurs who were unknowingly creating a model that we are still seeking to replicate today. The NBA was founded just six years after this horrifying display of American racism. As we look toward our centennial, we continue to close the racial wealth gap and strengthen generational wealth in minority communities throughout the nation.