Freedmen News

In March 2025, the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) formally submitted a records request and supporting documentation to the U.S. Department of the Treasury concerning the historical custodianship, governance, and fiduciary legacy of the Freedman’s Savings Bank. This submission was not symbolic. It was structured, documented, and supported by historical declarations, affidavits, and archival references establishing why the Freedman’s Savings Bank remains a central insti

For decades, the status of descendants of American slavery—often referred to as “Freedmen”—existed in public discourse without legal structure, verification, or protection. It appeared in speeches, grant programs, census categories, and political rhetoric, yet lacked one critical element required in law: a lawful authority capable of defining, verifying, and protecting the status. The result was predictable. The status became diluted, misclassified, and vulnerable to misuse.

There is a critical distinction that must be clearly understood when discussing Freedmen status: People may be descendants, but they are not recognized as Freedmen until they are verified. This is not a matter of opinion or gatekeeping. It is the difference between an unverified claim and a documented civil status that can be lawfully recognized, protected, and defended. That distinction also raises an important question: Who has the authority to verify Freedmen status, and w

As the Soulaan Autochthonous Identity Classification gains visibility, more people are beginning to understand what Soulaan truly represents: a culturally distinct, lineage-based identity authored by Dwayne Coleman II, rooted in the autochthonous evolution of a specific people on U.S. soil. But with this growth has come a critical point of clarification: Identifying as Soulaan does not replace the need for Freedmen Verification. And for anyone whose lineage ties back to U.S.

For years, consumer DNA companies have pushed a comforting narrative: “You come from Africa, so Africa is your biological home.” It sounds good. It feels connecting. But organ science—kidneys, hearts, lungs, livers, marrow—tells a completely different story. Freedmen consistently match other Freedmen inside the United States, not donors in Africa. And when Freedmen relocate to African countries based on a DNA test, the medical system forces them back to the U.S. the moment th

On December, 2025, the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) and the American Freedmen Legal Fund (AFLF) initiated a coordinated national action to correct a long-standing scientific and regulatory problem affecting millions of descendants of U.S. chattel slavery. For the first time, FRFT issued formal written notices to: 1. Every major commercial DNA testing company , including Ancestry 23andMe FamilyTreeDNA MyHeritage LivingDNA African Ancestry, Inc. 2. Multiple federal ag

The Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) has finalized an important advancement in lineage protection with the completion of Amendment No. 1 to the Soulaan Status-Based Trademark License Agreement. This amendment reinforces the legal and commercial framework surrounding Soulaan as a verified, status-based classification rooted in autochthonous U.S. lineage. This development reflects months of careful coordination between FRFT and Dwayne Coleman II — the official Trademar

A Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust Educational Case Study In many families, the first sign that old land still exists comes from something small — a tax notice, a deed fragment, or, in this case, a letter from 1980 discussing mineral rights under a property no one could locate. For more than 40 years, the family didn’t know: Where the land was located Who the current listed owner was Whether the property still existed at all Why a mineral rights company contacted them in the f

The American Freedmen Legal Fund continues to demonstrate why Verified Freedmen place their trust in the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust and its governance framework. This week, two major advocacy outcomes were achieved on behalf of beneficiaries under the authority of the Primary Trustee. 1. A Settlement Offer Successfully Doubled One of our Verified beneficiaries recently received an initial settlement offer. After reviewing the terms, the beneficiary—supported by the Prima

The Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) is proud to announce the upcoming launch of the Family & Investment Trust Support Program, beginning in 2026. This new initiative will guide Verified Freedmen in how to properly establish and operate Family Trusts and Investment Trusts, offering an additional layer of structure and protection under the verified Freedmen governance framework. Why We’re Introducing This Many Freedmen have never been taught how to create or manage a tru

Reclaiming Identity Beyond the Tribal Roll For centuries, government records have defined “American Indian” narrowly—usually limited to citizens of federally recognized tribes. But U.S. federal definitions include another, often-overlooked pathway: community attachment. The Freedmen Nation was built on that principle. Under the Office of Management and Budget’s Directive No. 15, which sets racial and ethnic standards for the Census and federal agencies, an American Indian o

When we last reported on the Lansing School District’s treatment of an 11-year-old student who disarmed a firearm, the district had already admitted that no policy exists on how to handle students who intervene in weapons threats. Now, they’ve responded to our FOIA appeal — and they’ve doubled down. Their answer? Not only do they still claim no records exist, but they now refuse to even process our appeal — claiming we used “different wording.” No New Information. No Acknowl

The Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) has officially executed the SOULAAN Status-Based Cultural Protection & Trademark License Agreement with Mr. Dwayne Coleman II, the verified owner of the SOULAAN service mark (USPTO Serial No. 98720373). The agreement was fully signed and notarized, and it now stands as a binding lineage-governed instrument recorded in the FRFT Legal & Cultural Registry. A Landmark for Status-Based Governance This signing marks a major step forward in

In recent years, DNA testing has exploded in the consumer market — ancestry kits, health reports, and genetic tracing services promising to “unlock your story.” But beneath the surface lies a different truth: the U.S. government has long funded and shaped the DNA testing industry, influencing how genetic categories are defined, stored, and interpreted. Through public contracts, forensic grants, and scientific partnerships, taxpayer money has built much of the infrastructure t

The Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust has released a new Personal Declaration of Temporary Economic and Housing Protection for Verified...

Since June 2024, the American Freedmen Legal Fund (AFLF) has been operating at full capacity—filing enforcement actions, supporting...

The Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) has confirmed that the City of Asheville and Buncombe County failed to respond to multiple...

Today, the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) , in conjunction with the American Freedmen Legal Fund (AFLF) , formally escalated its...

The Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust has received the final FOIA response from the U.S. Department of the Treasury under Case #2025-FO-00112 , confirming receipt and processing of our Declaration of Sole Authority . This formal acknowledgment—issued without objection, denial, or challenge—solidifies our position under private irrevocable trust law . Our notice has been served, our record established, and our legal jurisdiction is now active. What This Means: The U.S. governmen

The Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) has taken another historic step forward. Alongside our foundational declarations—such as the...