Staff
In honor of Juneteenth, Congresswomen Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) introduced a resolution to honor, preserve, and ensure investment in former Freedmen’s Settlements—communities established by freed enslaved Americans following the abolition of slavery, which have historically not only been neglected, but terrorized.
Over 1,200 Freedmen’s Settlements and Black Towns were established throughout the South and across the nation before and after emancipation to create safer, self-sustaining, and thriving communities away from racial violence and economic discrimination.
“Freedmen’s Settlements, in many ways, tell the African American story: gaining freedom after breaking the shackles of slavery, yet never fully escaping the institution of racism, from failed Reconstruction and the false promises of the Freedmen’s Bureau to Jim Crow Laws, economic and housing discrimination through redlining, and environmental racism.
Despite this, African Americans have persevered: Freedmen’s Settlements represent Black resiliency, Black hope, and Black excellence,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove.
“As we celebrate freedom on Juneteenth, we are reminded that we must continually build towards a just future. That’s why I am proud to introduce this resolution—those whose enslaved labor built the infrastructure of this nation should have access to clean drinking water, education, and other basic resources. We must begin to right the wrongs of the past by celebrating and uplifting these communities.”
“Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, and a reminder of the work that lies before us as we continue to fight to preserve Black history and deliver true equity and justice for Black Americans,” said Congresswoman Tlaib. “I am proud to introduce this resolution with Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove to honor and preserve the Freedmen Settlements like Idlewild in Michigan—where free and formerly enslaved African Americans built their lives.”
“At a time when the teaching of Black History is being banned from our nation’s schools and efforts to rectify historic injustice are being quashed, it’s more important than ever to acknowledge the legacy of Freedmen’s Settlements and invest in the communities that have been maliciously neglected. It is an apt tribute to the spirit of Juneteenth and our nation’s ongoing journey toward equity and reconciliation,” said Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League.
“Freedmen’s Settlements founded by freed slaves offered a space to escape from the horrific trauma of slavery and to own land that was their slice of freedom. Land passed down from generations was intended to leave a legacy of self-pride and independence. It is a legacy,” said Tonnette Byrd, Executive Director of Until Justice.
“There is no better way to honor our ancestors on Juneteenth than by this resolution that uplifts their strength, resilience, and culture of cooperative economics and communal struggle. This resolution helps us to remember, repair, and reclaim these places, and the cultural foundations that built them to help us all meet our 21st Century environmental, economic, and social challenges,” said the Ubuntu Climate Initiative’s Denise Fairchild. The resolution was cosponsored by Representative André Carson (IN-07), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Nikema Williams (GA-05). Organizations such as The Chisholm Legacy Project, The Climate Reality Project, the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, the National Urban League, and the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network also endorsed the resolution