Tag Archives: author Viola Ford Fletcher

Black Wall Street Survivor Viola Ford Fletcher Tribute: NYC Buildings Illuminate in Remembrance of International Day of the Slave and Buried Stories

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Tonight, the heart of New York City will resonate with a poignant tribute as its iconic buildings don a solemn hue in honor of the International Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. This visual gesture carries a profound significance, paying homage to both an exceptional individual and an often-forgotten chapter of history, Mocha Media announces today.

The chosen illuminating color, yellow, serves as a tribute to Ms. Viola Ford Fletcher, the world's oldest living author and the venerable survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Yellow holds a special place in Ms. Fletcher's heart as her favorite color, symbolizing optimism, resilience, and hope. At 109 years old, Ms. Fletcher embodies these very qualities, and her powerful best-selling memoir, "Don't Let Them Bury My Story," has touched hearts worldwide. Her remarkable journey through one of history's darkest episodes stands as a testament to human strength and perseverance.

Tonight's luminous display resonates with the spirit of Ms. Fletcher's message - one that emphasizes the vitality of remembering the past to forge a better future. In her book, she voices the importance of preserving these narratives as they serve to illuminate the path toward justice and equity. Her narrative of survival and determination continues to inspire dialogue on racial justice and historical acknowledgment.

As part of her commemoration of this significant day, Ms. Fletcher's itinerary in New York City holds poignant engagements. At 11 a.m., she will visit the African Burial Ground, paying her respects to those who endured the horrors of slavery. A moment of silence at 11:11 will stand as a collective acknowledgment of their struggles and the importance of their remembrance. Subsequently, at noon, Ms. Fletcher will be hosted by the United Nations, where observance will take place at the Ark Monument. Here, she will pour libations and offer prayers, invoking blessings in honor of the countless forgotten stories that history failed to tell.

Through the collective brilliance of these illuminated landmarks, especially in her favorite color, yellow, we unite in acknowledging Ms. Fletcher's legacy and her pivotal role in shaping our understanding of history. New York City's skyline transforms into a canvas of remembrance, standing as a testament to Ms. Fletcher's status as the world's oldest author and her profound impact on our shared narrative.

As night falls, the illuminated buildings not only pay homage to history but also stand as a beacon of hope for the future. This tribute echoes the sentiment that stories, like those of Ms. Fletcher, should never be consigned to oblivion but should instead serve as beacons of light, guiding our steps toward a more enlightened tomorrow.

For more information, please contact:

press@mochamediainc.com

202-210-0925

LISTING OF APPEARANCES:

* WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23, 2023

11 a.m. The African Burial Grounds, Wall Street

Honoring The Buried Stories. A short reading followed by a moment of silence at 11:11

12 p.m. The Ark of Remembrance, United Nations

Official Observance of the International Day of Remembrance of the Slave. Libations and blessings will be offered to commemorate the day.

* THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2023

6:30 p.m. Book Launch: Don't Let Them Bury My Story.

Book Talk with Viola Ford Fletcher and Grandson/Co-Author, Ike Howard, Hannah Nikole Jones and Mocha Ochoa

News from Mocha Media Inc

Tonight, the heart of New York City will resonate with a poignant tribute as its iconic buildings don a solemn hue in honor of the International Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. This visual gesture carries a profound significance, paying homage to both an exceptional individual and an often-forgotten chapter of history, Mocha Media announces today.

Related link: https://www.mochamediabooks.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

108-Year-Old Tulsa Race Massacre Survivor Viola Ford Fletcher Turns to Literary Activism to Seek Justice, Making History as Oldest Woman in the World to Publish Memoir

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mocha Media Inc is honored to announce the publication of "DON'T LET THEM BURY MY STORY, The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre In Her Own Words" (Hardcover; On Sale: May 30, 2023; $29.99; ISBN: 978-1737168409) by Viola Ford Fletcher with her grandson Ike Howard on the 102nd Anniversary of the event that caused the single worst incident of racial violence in the history of the United States.

"I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot." - Viola Ford Fletcher.

A lifetime in the making, "DON'T LET THEM BURY MY STORY" shares the journey of the oldest survivor and last living witness of the Tulsa Massacre of 1921. In her memoir, Ms. Fletcher, affectionally known as "Mother Fletcher," takes us through the journey of a terrified seven-year-old girl awakened in the middle of the night and forced to flee her burning neighborhood of Greenwood to the 107-year-old family matriarch testifying before Congress100 years later to the date seeking justice for the families of the greatest tragedy to take place on American soil.

"I will never forget the violence of the white mob when we left our home. I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire. I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams," Fletcher told Congress. "I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot."

Despite 1921 Tulsa being a highly segregated city, the 10,000 Black residents of its Greenwood community created a thriving business district known as "Black Wall Street." But unfortunately, what should have been an opportunity to create generational wealth, became a nightmare that killed hundreds of Black Tulsans. The thousands of survivors who had just lost loved ones and millions of dollars in property were then forced into internment camps.

With no one ever held accountable for the horror they endured, these traumatized American citizens had to figure out how to survive in a country that attacked them with military force and threatened their lives if they ever attempted to tell their stories. For 102 years, the remaining survivors patiently waited to be acknowledged, heard, and restored.

"My grandmother was afraid to tell her stories for many years in fear of retaliation," says her grandson Ike Howard, co-writer and President of the Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation. Finally, the retired military veteran suggested that perhaps God had blessed her with longevity so she could tell everyone what happened in Tulsa. "Knowing I was here to protect her, she was encouraged to conquer her fear. She looked at me and said, "Alright then, go tell my damn story."

"DON'T LET THEM BURY MY STORY" is set to publish on May 30, 2023, the 102nd Anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, under Mocha Media, a Black-woman-owned publishing company that produces original, curated, and user-generated content digital and traditional formats. Upon publication Ms. Fletcher will be 109 years old, making her the oldest centurion to ever write a book.

"What an honor it is to make history on International Women's Day with Mother Fletcher, who is using the power of the pen to keep her survival story alive. It's Literary Activism at its finest," says Margo Ochoa, CEO of Mocha Media Inc. "Because our publishing model not only provides a platform for marginalized writers but it also allows Ms. Fletcher to receive immediate royalties, this we in our own way can do our part to assist in the economic restoration of Ms. Fletcher and her family."

Ms. Fletcher and Ike Howard along with her "Baby Brother" Van Ellis (102) who wrote the forward to the book will embark on tour during the spring and summer of 2023.

Learn more at: https://www.mochamediabooks.com/

For additional information and media interviews, contact: info@theoraclegroupinc.net

News from Mocha Media Inc

Mocha Media Inc is honored to announce the publication of "DON'T LET THEM BURY MY STORY, The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre In Her Own Words" (Hardcover; On Sale: May 30, 2023; $29.99; ISBN: 978-1737168409) by Viola Ford Fletcher with her grandson Ike Howard on the 102nd Anniversary of the event that caused the single worst incident of racial violence in the history of the United States.

Related link: https://www.mochamediabooks.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.