William Major Scott

Scott Ellsworth is an American author and historian born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 17, 1954. He dedicated his academic career to the study of history, earning advanced degrees from Duke University after his undergraduate studies at Reed College. Ellsworth's work has significantly contributed to the public understanding of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. His initial research on the subject, stemming from childhood memories and a senior thesis, culminated in his first book, 'Death in a Promised Land: The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921,' published when he was twenty-seven. This comprehensive account was the first of its kind, detailing the devastating racial violence and its aftermath.

Beyond his foundational work on the Tulsa massacre, Ellsworth has explored other significant historical events and narratives. He has written about a clandestine, integrated basketball game during World War II in 'The Secret Game,' and the perilous world of Himalayan mountaineering in 'The World Beneath Their Feet.' His more recent book, 'The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice,' revisits the Tulsa massacre, focusing on the decades-long suppression of its history and its eventual resurgence in public consciousness. Ellsworth's research and advocacy have been instrumental in embedding the Tulsa tragedy into the national narrative, and he continues to be involved in efforts to locate victims' remains.

Scott Ellsworth's scholarly contributions are deeply intertwined with his extensive research on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. His seminal work, 'Death in a Promised Land,' published in 1982, was the first comprehensive historical account of this devastating event. Drawing on both traditional archival research and interviews with survivors, the book meticulously documented the looting and destruction of Black homes and businesses by white mobs, and the significant loss of life. Ellsworth's commitment to this history led him to initiate the search for unmarked graves of massacre victims in 1999 while serving on the Tulsa Race Riot Commission. His 2021 book, 'The Ground Breaking,' further explored the long period of historical suppression surrounding the massacre and the subsequent efforts to bring its story to light, earning critical acclaim and recognition.

Beyond his pivotal work on the Tulsa Race Massacre, Scott Ellsworth has demonstrated a broad range of historical inquiry through his narrative non-fiction. In 'The Secret Game' (2015), he uncovered and chronicled a remarkable, integrated college basketball game from 1944 that challenged the era's segregationist norms and foreshadowed the Civil Rights Movement. His passion for challenging environments and human endeavor is evident in 'The World Beneath Their Feet' (2020), which details the high-stakes race to summit the Himalayas against the backdrop of global conflict and political upheaval. Ellsworth's writing is noted for its ability to blend rigorous historical research with compelling storytelling, making complex historical events accessible and engaging for a wide audience.