James Brown Officially Declared a Verified Freedman by the Trust
- Freedmen Nation
- May 21
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 2
On May 21, 2025, the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust issued a formal Declaration of Verified Freedman Status recognizing James Brown, the iconic entertainer and Augusta native, as a Verified Freedman. This official filing affirms that Mr. Brown meets the Trust’s status-based criteria rooted in U.S. chattel slavery and post-Emancipation lineage.
This declaration is supported not only by James Brown’s public legacy but also by newly referenced genealogical documentation. Records from Barnwell County, South Carolina, show that James Brown’s paternal line includes Henry Brown (1876–1959), and James Brown Sr. (1839–1929) — born squarely within the slavery era. This evidence confirms that James Brown descends directly from individuals enslaved in the United States.
The Trust’s declaration emphasizes:
James Brown’s origin and upbringing in Freedmen communities of South Carolina and Georgia;
His cultural legacy rooted in the struggle and triumph of post-Emancipation Black America;
The Trust’s legal authority to recognize and protect historic Freedmen from public erasure.
This action comes in light of ongoing efforts to rename the James Brown Arena in Augusta. The Trust has issued a formal opposition to any such change and declared the site a Protected Cultural Landmark of Freedmen Significance.
James Brown is more than a music legend — he is now formally recognized in perpetuity as a Verified Freedman.
Read the full declaration here:
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