Declaration: January Is Freedmen History Month: A New Chapter in American Recognition
- Freedmen Nation
- May 28
- 2 min read
Updated: May 30
On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, marking a defining legal moment in American history. Yet for generations, the people most directly impacted—Freedmen—have watched their unique identity buried beneath broad racial categories and erased from public consciousness. That ends now.
The Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust (FRFT) has formally declared January as Freedmen History Month, honoring the emancipation of our people not just as a historical moment, but as the birth of a legal and political status that continues to carry weight today.
Why January?
January is when the United States officially began the legal transition from slavery to freedom. It is the month that created the foundation for what would become the Freedmen identity—a status tied not to color, not to continent, but to a direct historical and legal reality.
While February has long been celebrated as Black History Month, January now holds space for a more specific truth: the story of those who were freed by law, who built America in chains and again in freedom, and whose status must be respected, protected, and repaired.
What Is Freedmen History Month?
Freedmen History Month is not a generic observance. It is:
A legal recognition under Trust Law by the FRFT.
A month to educate the public about the legal and genealogical roots of the Freedmen.
A time to host verified cultural events, lectures, school programming, and reparative policy discussions.
A formal call for all institutions to stop misclassifying Freedmen under foreign-origin labels like “African American” or “Black.”
How It’s Protected
Only events and observances licensed through the FRFT may use the name “Freedmen History Month.” This ensures that the history being told remains true to the lived experiences and legal realities of our people. The Trust protects this recognition with the same authority that governs tribal declarations or religious exemptions.
How You Can Participate
Verified Freedmen can organize events locally using their Declaration as proof of authority.
Schools and educators can invite FRFT representatives to speak or distribute curriculum tailored to status-based history.
Businesses and sponsors can license official programming through FreedmenNation.org and align with reparative justice goals.
The public can share stories, videos, and lessons using the hashtag:
This Is Our Emancipation Month
January is no longer just a new year. It is a new chapter for the American Freedmen. One written not by others, but by us—for ourselves and our future generations.
Join the movement.
Honor the truth.
Build the Nation.
🔗 Read our Declaration!
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