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Redeem a Nation: The Century-Long Battle to Restore the Soul of America
The nation’s foremost expert on restorative justice and the lead attorney for the last survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre presents a powerful and urgent call to arms to right the wrongs of our past for a more sustainable future.
Despite North Tulsa, Damario Solomon-Simmons’ hometown, once being the mecca for Black wealth, north Tulsans don’t own land or property, don't have access to inheritance or generational wealth, and mostly live paycheck to paycheck with little opportunity for climbing out of the crushing hole of poverty. We see through young Damario’s eyes–and the subtle and direct racism he faces–that Tulsa hasn’t shed its racist roots. Combining his own experience and the evocative portrait of a city suffering under one hundred years without repair, Redeem a Nation acknowledges why restorative justice is urgent and critical. We must address the systemic barriers that continue to perpetuate inequality and provide the necessary resources for individuals and communities to thrive.
Riveting and unflinching, Redeem a Nation presents a compelling case for reparatory justice and reminds us of our collective responsibility to dismantle the structures that perpetuate inequality and suffering. Redeem a Nation grapples with the monumental story of corruption, disenfranchisement, and poverty in America through the historic, complex legal case for reparations in Tulsa and the deeply personal and evocative stories of the last living victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre and their descendants. It explores the moral obligation to seek justice and rectify both the past and present to forge a more equitable America in the face of its current deconstruction.
Redeem a Nation reveals how the damage of generational poverty and loss of opportunity isn’t some relic of the past. It is happening right now, in towns and cities all over the United States. From Tulsa to Chicago, Redeem a Nation offers a way forward through real systematic change and community care.
Despite North Tulsa, Damario Solomon-Simmons’ hometown, once being the mecca for Black wealth, north Tulsans don’t own land or property, don't have access to inheritance or generational wealth, and mostly live paycheck to paycheck with little opportunity for climbing out of the crushing hole of poverty. We see through young Damario’s eyes–and the subtle and direct racism he faces–that Tulsa hasn’t shed its racist roots. Combining his own experience and the evocative portrait of a city suffering under one hundred years without repair, Redeem a Nation acknowledges why restorative justice is urgent and critical. We must address the systemic barriers that continue to perpetuate inequality and provide the necessary resources for individuals and communities to thrive.
Riveting and unflinching, Redeem a Nation presents a compelling case for reparatory justice and reminds us of our collective responsibility to dismantle the structures that perpetuate inequality and suffering. Redeem a Nation grapples with the monumental story of corruption, disenfranchisement, and poverty in America through the historic, complex legal case for reparations in Tulsa and the deeply personal and evocative stories of the last living victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre and their descendants. It explores the moral obligation to seek justice and rectify both the past and present to forge a more equitable America in the face of its current deconstruction.
Redeem a Nation reveals how the damage of generational poverty and loss of opportunity isn’t some relic of the past. It is happening right now, in towns and cities all over the United States. From Tulsa to Chicago, Redeem a Nation offers a way forward through real systematic change and community care.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 2, 2026
Redeem a Nation is at its strongest in the first half. Damario Solomon-Simmons does an outstanding job weaving together his own life experiences with the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre and the fight for justice that followed. The survivor testimonies were, without question, the most powerful part of the book. Reading firsthand accounts of the terror unleashed on Greenwood and the decades-long struggle for recognition and justice was heartbreaking. Those stories alone make this book worth reading.
The second half, however, wasn't quite as compelling for me. As the narrative shifts toward the author's personal losses, the COVID-19 era, and his own emotional journey, I found myself wishing the book had remained more focused on the historical narrative and the legal battle surrounding Tulsa. While those personal stories help explain what drove Solomon-Simmons, they didn't resonate with me as strongly as the historical accounts that made the opening chapters so captivating.
I also had mixed feelings about the book's discussion of repair and restoration. I appreciate that Solomon-Simmons advocates for meaningful forms of reparatory justice—compensation, land restoration, institutional accountability, and long-term community investment. Those are serious proposals. At the same time, some of the broader vision of restoration felt more aspirational than fully convincing. I couldn't help but think about Mehrsa Baradaran's The Color of Money, which argues that Greenwood's destruction wasn't only the result of the massacre itself, but also of the legal, financial, and institutional barriers that followed. Those systemic obstacles made rebuilding Black wealth extraordinarily difficult. Because of that, I wanted a deeper discussion of whether even meaningful reparative efforts can fully overcome those structural barriers.
That critique doesn't diminish the importance of this book. Solomon-Simmons tells an essential story about one of the darkest chapters in American history and reminds readers that the fight for justice didn't end in 1921—it continued for generations. Even where I wasn't fully persuaded by every conclusion, I found the book thoughtful, informative, and well worth reading.
My only real criticism is that I wish the second half had maintained the same historical focus and momentum that made the first half so exceptional.
The second half, however, wasn't quite as compelling for me. As the narrative shifts toward the author's personal losses, the COVID-19 era, and his own emotional journey, I found myself wishing the book had remained more focused on the historical narrative and the legal battle surrounding Tulsa. While those personal stories help explain what drove Solomon-Simmons, they didn't resonate with me as strongly as the historical accounts that made the opening chapters so captivating.
I also had mixed feelings about the book's discussion of repair and restoration. I appreciate that Solomon-Simmons advocates for meaningful forms of reparatory justice—compensation, land restoration, institutional accountability, and long-term community investment. Those are serious proposals. At the same time, some of the broader vision of restoration felt more aspirational than fully convincing. I couldn't help but think about Mehrsa Baradaran's The Color of Money, which argues that Greenwood's destruction wasn't only the result of the massacre itself, but also of the legal, financial, and institutional barriers that followed. Those systemic obstacles made rebuilding Black wealth extraordinarily difficult. Because of that, I wanted a deeper discussion of whether even meaningful reparative efforts can fully overcome those structural barriers.
That critique doesn't diminish the importance of this book. Solomon-Simmons tells an essential story about one of the darkest chapters in American history and reminds readers that the fight for justice didn't end in 1921—it continued for generations. Even where I wasn't fully persuaded by every conclusion, I found the book thoughtful, informative, and well worth reading.
My only real criticism is that I wish the second half had maintained the same historical focus and momentum that made the first half so exceptional.
July 12, 2026
Thank you so much to Storehouse Voices, Penguin Random House, and Goodreads for the giveaway copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Redeem a Nation is one of those books that teaches you history while also reminding you why hope matters. Even though it covers the heartbreaking true story of the Tulsa Race Massacre and the destruction of Black Wall Street, it is ultimately a story about resilience, justice, and the fight to uncover the truth. I appreciated how Damario Solomon-Simmons combined extensive research, firsthand accounts, and his own personal experiences to tell a story that feels both deeply personal and historically important. I learned so much about this tragic chapter of American history that was hidden from so many people for generations. The photographs throughout the book made everything even more powerful and helped connect me to the people behind the history. If you enjoy nonfiction that both educates and inspires, this is a book worth reading.
July 14, 2026
Eye opening to what taken place in Greenwood, I didn’t know much about what happened. Reading this book, really opened my eyes to how devastating things became for the people. Hate and bigotry really destroyed a well off black neighborhood! It pissed me off, that even when we’re doing good and staying to ourselves. Evil can’t stay away and doesn’t enjoy blacks being well off, not depending on white america!
July 21, 2026
Didn't want to put it down, leaves you feeling heavy with the weight of our history and hopeful for a better future, because this book is a blueprint for how to do it
September 24, 2026
An excellent read, including past history and providing ideas in the present to help move the nation forward.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews