Freedmen News

Trust law is fully recognized, protected, and assumed by the United States Constitution—even though the word “trust” does not appear explicitly in the constitutional text. Its authority arises from constitutional structure, founding-era legal practice, and repeated affirmation by the United States Supreme Court. This is not a theory or interpretation created after the fact. Trust law was a settled legal system before the Constitution was written, and the Constitution was desi

When slavery formally ended in the United States, freedom was declared—but harm did not end. For Freedmen, emancipation marked a shift in the form of oppression, not its disappearance. The historical record shows a clear and continuous pattern of injury that extended beyond enslavement and adapted to new legal, economic, and administrative systems. This reality is best described as continuity of harm. Harm Did Not End—It Changed Form Emancipation removed the legal status of e

The next Freedmen Historical Marker will be awarded based on donations connected to the Live Freedmen Nation Fundraiser, with $350 established as the starting benchmark from the live show. From this point forward, all donations are cumulative. How It Works $350 is the current highest total, set during the live fundraiser. Any donor may become the next recipient by exceeding $350 in total donations. If you donated during the live show, your existing donation already counts. An

Understanding Status, Verification, and Repair The Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust was established to address historical harm created by U.S. legal systems through status-based repair. This work does not operate on self-identification, race-based classification, or political affiliation. It operates on documentation, legal records, and institutional standards. The process is intentionally structured in two distinct phases: Freedmen Status Verification Post-Verification Repair

During today’s live fundraiser, January 4, 2026, the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) will introduce a new and lasting form of recognition for those who materially support the work of private reparations. The highest donor of today’s event, as well as the highest donor for the month of January 2026, will each receive an Online Freedmen Historical Marker in honor of their contribution. This marker is not a plaque or a social media shoutout. It is a permanent digital reco

For historical accuracy and record correction, early American source material must be used—not modern racial constructs. The American Dictionary of the English Language , compiled by Noah Webster, reflects how people were described and classified in the early United States, before later racial consolidation. In this dictionary, “copper-colored” is a recognized racial descriptor associated with the native inhabitants of the Americas, commonly identified at the time as American

In Freedmen Nation, we take family seriously — not just in name, but in truth, law, and bloodline. That’s why The Cookout isn’t just a cultural symbol. It’s a private, secured space reserved only for those who have completed their genealogy and been verified as Freedmen under the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust. This isn’t about vibes. This is about verified family. What Is The Cookout? “The Cookout” is a Freedmen-only circle. It’s where our verified members gather, connect,

People often assume everything that looks organized is an “organization.” That assumption creates confusion — especially when it comes to authority, protection, and permanence. The Freedmen ecosystem was intentionally designed to avoid that confusion. What exists here is an institution, built from distinct legal parts that do different jobs. The Foundation: The Trust Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust  is not an organization. It is a trust, meaning it is governed by fiduciary la

Freedmen Nation has updated its Question & Answer (Q&A) section to ensure visitors can quickly find clear, accurate answers about who we are, how our systems work, and what protections and services are available. As interest in verification, trust governance, and beneficiary protections continues to grow, we recognized the need to address common questions directly—without confusion, assumptions, or misinformation. The updated Q&A reflects the most frequent questions we receiv

Reparations fail without infrastructure. FRFT exists to ensure that reparations do not fail. The Core Reality (Stated Plainly) Reparations are not stalled because of a lack of moral agreement. They are stalled because the United States has never built an institution to administer them. No eligibility administrator. No verification authority. No protected registry. No fraud prevention system. No payout-ready structure. FRFT exists to fill that institutional void. Reparations A

Beginning your genealogy research can feel confusing, overwhelming, or even intimidating — especially when you don’t know which records matter or where to start. That is exactly why the Self-Help Genealogy Tools page exists: to walk you through the process step by step and make the beginning of your journey clear and achievable. The Self-Help Genealogy Tools page is structured to give you practical guidance at every stage. It starts with the basics — like gathering what you a

One of the most persistent misunderstandings in the reparations conversation is the belief that reparations are either symbolic, limited to community grants, or incompatible with individual beneficiaries receiving direct compensation. This confusion exists largely because most reparations efforts lack a legally durable institution capable of administering reparations at scale. The Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust exists to solve that problem. Reparations Require Administration

There has been ongoing confusion and, in some cases, misinformation about whether people are charged to participate in this work. This clarification is necessary and definitive: The Trust, the Freedmen Nation PMA, and the Beneficiary framework do not charge anything. Beneficiaries Are Never Charged Individuals recognized or protected as Beneficiaries under the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust are never charged to: Be named or recognized as a Beneficiary Maintain Beneficiary st

The Soulaan structure was not formed as a trend, a movement, or a public-facing organization. It was established deliberately under private trust law to protect a people-based classification, preserve authorship, and prevent misclassification or external capture. At the center of this structure is Dwayne Coleman II, recognized as the originator and People-holder of the Soulaan classification. Why Trust Law Was Used Trust law was selected because it provides something most pub

Beginning in 2026, the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) will launch the Freedmen Historical Marker Program—a national effort created for the past and the present of our Verified Freedmen. This program is not only about remembering where our ancestors stood. It is about affirming where Verified Freedmen stand today—with continuity, documentation, and public recognition rooted in truth. Past: Restoring What Was Interrupted Across the United States, Freedmen communities bu

Men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces understand duty, structure, and sacrifice. Military service is built on clear records, verified identity, and lawful standing. These same principles are at the core of Freedmen Nation. For U.S. Military Veterans who are Descendants of American Slaves™, joining Freedmen Nation is not about symbolism. It is about status protection, historical accuracy, and lawful support—backed by governance, verification, and legal adv

Heir property is one of the most overlooked issues affecting Freedmen families today. Land passes down through generations without clear paperwork, and over time it becomes vulnerable—mismanaged, quietly sold, or lost altogether. Many families don’t realize there’s a problem until decades later. Recently, the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) worked with a beneficiary who believed their family land might be at risk. What we found is a situation many families will recogni

Public debates about identity often overlook one crucial reality: every family line has its own documented story , and no single narrative applies to all descendants of U.S. chattel slavery. Too many conversations rely on assumptions, not records. That’s why genealogy — real document-based genealogy — is the foundation of accurate verification. One of the most common misconceptions is the claim that “being enslaved means you must be from Africa.” That idea collapses instantly