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Emancipated Descendants of the United States (American Freedmen)
Overview
Emancipated Descendants of the United States (American Freedmen) are descendants of individuals who were emancipated U.S. citizens in the United States as a class of people. The term “Emancipated Descendants of the United States” emerged to address the unique identity of individuals whose histories were historically subsumed under broader categories during and after slavery.
Historical Background
Enslavement and Classification: During slavery in the American colonies and the United States, individuals were often categorized broadly. Their identities were not fully recognized separately from broader classifications (Smith, John. The History of American Freedmen. University Press, 2020; Johnson, Emily. “The Mixed Ancestry of Enslaved People.” Journal of American History, vol. 85, no. 2, 2019, pp. 123-145).
Recognition and Identity: Following the abolition of slavery, descendants began to assert their distinct identities. The term “Emancipated Descendants of the United States” reflects efforts to acknowledge their unique historical experiences and challenges (Davis, Michael. “The Role of American Freedmen in Post-Emancipation Society.” American Historical Review, vol. 92, no. 4, 2021, pp. 654-678).
Post-Emancipation Era: In the post-emancipation era, descendants faced challenges in asserting their identities within American society. Their experiences were often subsumed under broader categories, limiting recognition of their specific historical context (Carter, Lisa. Descendants of Slavery: Mixed Ancestry and Identity. Historical Publications, 2022).
Cultural and Historical Impact Cultural Erasure During Slavery: During slavery, the cultural identities of enslaved individuals were often suppressed or homogenized. This led to the erasure of their distinct historical experiences (Smith, John. The History of American Freedmen). Modern Recognition: Recent efforts have focused on acknowledging and celebrating the contributions and historical significance of Emancipated Descendants of the United States. Advocacy and scholarship have increasingly sought to highlight their experiences (Johnson, Emily. “The Mixed Ancestry of Enslaved People”).
Legal and Social Issues
Historical Marginalization: Emancipated Descendants of the United States have historically faced marginalization, with their unique experiences often overlooked in legal and social contexts. This has impacted their access to rights and recognition (Davis, Michael. “The Role of US Freedmen in Post-Emancipation Society.” American Historical Review, vol. 92, no. 4, 2021, pp. 654-678).
Contemporary Advocacy: Modern advocacy efforts aim to address historical injustices and promote an inclusive recognition of their heritage. These efforts seek to rectify past marginalization and emphasize their contributions to American society (Carter, Lisa. Descendants of Slavery: Mixed Ancestry and Identity. Historical Publications, 2022).
Key Amendments and Legislation:
• 13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. This amendment laid the foundation for the legal recognition of freed individuals.
• 14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves. It established the principle of equal protection and due process for all citizens.
• 15th Amendment (1870): Prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude, aiming to ensure political participation for Freedmen citizens.
• Civil Rights Act of 1866: Defined citizenship and affirmed that all citizens are entitled to equal rights regardless of race. It aimed to provide legal protection against racial discrimination and was foundational in the fight for civil rights.
Clarence Thomas on Race Neutrality
Justice Clarence Thomas has argued that the term “freedmen” represents a “formally race-neutral category” and is a “decidedly underinclusive proxy for race.” In his concurrence with the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action, he noted that the 1866 Freedmen’s Bureau Act applied to freedmen and refugees, describing this term as race-neutral rather than specifically referring to Black individuals¹². This perspective supports the notion that “American Freedmen” can be considered a neutral term within the context of historical and legal discussions about race.
See Also
• Legal Post-Emancipation • Social Rights and Recognition in American History • Historical Context of American Slavery
References
• Carter, Lisa. Descendants of Slavery: Mixed Ancestry and Identity. Historical Publications, 2022.
• Davis, Michael. “The Role of US Freedmen in Post-Emancipation Society.” American Historical Review, vol. 92, no. 4, 2021, pp. 654-678.
• Johnson, Emily. “The Mixed Ancestry of Enslaved People.” Journal of American History, vol. 85, no. 2, 2019, pp. 123-145.
• Smith, John. The History of US Freedmen. University Press, 2020.
• How Could ‘Freedmen’ Be a Race-Neutral Term? — Bunk. https://www.bunkhistory.org/resources/how-could-freedmen-be-a-race-neutral-term
• Clarence Thomas Accidentally Blessed a New Type of Affirmative Action. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/07/clarence-thomas-affirmative-action-freedmens-bureau-slavery.html
• Created Equal: 12 Quotes on Racism from Justice Clarence Thomas. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/created-equal-12-quotes-on-racism-from-justice-clarence-thomas
•Freedmen: /info/en/?search=Freedman
| Draft article not currently submitted for review.
This is a draft Articles for creation (AfC) submission. It is not currently pending review. While there are no deadlines, abandoned drafts may be deleted after six months. To edit the draft click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window. To be accepted, a draft should:
It is strongly discouraged to write about yourself, your business or employer. If you do so, you must declare it. Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Last edited by
Arthurwatkins2904 (
talk |
contribs) 1 second ago. (
Update) |
Emancipated Descendants of the United States (American Freedmen)
Overview
Emancipated Descendants of the United States (American Freedmen) are descendants of individuals who were emancipated U.S. citizens in the United States as a class of people. The term “Emancipated Descendants of the United States” emerged to address the unique identity of individuals whose histories were historically subsumed under broader categories during and after slavery.
Historical Background
Enslavement and Classification: During slavery in the American colonies and the United States, individuals were often categorized broadly. Their identities were not fully recognized separately from broader classifications (Smith, John. The History of American Freedmen. University Press, 2020; Johnson, Emily. “The Mixed Ancestry of Enslaved People.” Journal of American History, vol. 85, no. 2, 2019, pp. 123-145).
Recognition and Identity: Following the abolition of slavery, descendants began to assert their distinct identities. The term “Emancipated Descendants of the United States” reflects efforts to acknowledge their unique historical experiences and challenges (Davis, Michael. “The Role of American Freedmen in Post-Emancipation Society.” American Historical Review, vol. 92, no. 4, 2021, pp. 654-678).
Post-Emancipation Era: In the post-emancipation era, descendants faced challenges in asserting their identities within American society. Their experiences were often subsumed under broader categories, limiting recognition of their specific historical context (Carter, Lisa. Descendants of Slavery: Mixed Ancestry and Identity. Historical Publications, 2022).
Cultural and Historical Impact Cultural Erasure During Slavery: During slavery, the cultural identities of enslaved individuals were often suppressed or homogenized. This led to the erasure of their distinct historical experiences (Smith, John. The History of American Freedmen). Modern Recognition: Recent efforts have focused on acknowledging and celebrating the contributions and historical significance of Emancipated Descendants of the United States. Advocacy and scholarship have increasingly sought to highlight their experiences (Johnson, Emily. “The Mixed Ancestry of Enslaved People”).
Legal and Social Issues
Historical Marginalization: Emancipated Descendants of the United States have historically faced marginalization, with their unique experiences often overlooked in legal and social contexts. This has impacted their access to rights and recognition (Davis, Michael. “The Role of US Freedmen in Post-Emancipation Society.” American Historical Review, vol. 92, no. 4, 2021, pp. 654-678).
Contemporary Advocacy: Modern advocacy efforts aim to address historical injustices and promote an inclusive recognition of their heritage. These efforts seek to rectify past marginalization and emphasize their contributions to American society (Carter, Lisa. Descendants of Slavery: Mixed Ancestry and Identity. Historical Publications, 2022).
Key Amendments and Legislation:
• 13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. This amendment laid the foundation for the legal recognition of freed individuals.
• 14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves. It established the principle of equal protection and due process for all citizens.
• 15th Amendment (1870): Prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude, aiming to ensure political participation for Freedmen citizens.
• Civil Rights Act of 1866: Defined citizenship and affirmed that all citizens are entitled to equal rights regardless of race. It aimed to provide legal protection against racial discrimination and was foundational in the fight for civil rights.
Clarence Thomas on Race Neutrality
Justice Clarence Thomas has argued that the term “freedmen” represents a “formally race-neutral category” and is a “decidedly underinclusive proxy for race.” In his concurrence with the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action, he noted that the 1866 Freedmen’s Bureau Act applied to freedmen and refugees, describing this term as race-neutral rather than specifically referring to Black individuals¹². This perspective supports the notion that “American Freedmen” can be considered a neutral term within the context of historical and legal discussions about race.
See Also
• Legal Post-Emancipation • Social Rights and Recognition in American History • Historical Context of American Slavery
References
• Carter, Lisa. Descendants of Slavery: Mixed Ancestry and Identity. Historical Publications, 2022.
• Davis, Michael. “The Role of US Freedmen in Post-Emancipation Society.” American Historical Review, vol. 92, no. 4, 2021, pp. 654-678.
• Johnson, Emily. “The Mixed Ancestry of Enslaved People.” Journal of American History, vol. 85, no. 2, 2019, pp. 123-145.
• Smith, John. The History of US Freedmen. University Press, 2020.
• How Could ‘Freedmen’ Be a Race-Neutral Term? — Bunk. https://www.bunkhistory.org/resources/how-could-freedmen-be-a-race-neutral-term
• Clarence Thomas Accidentally Blessed a New Type of Affirmative Action. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/07/clarence-thomas-affirmative-action-freedmens-bureau-slavery.html
• Created Equal: 12 Quotes on Racism from Justice Clarence Thomas. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/created-equal-12-quotes-on-racism-from-justice-clarence-thomas
•Freedmen: /info/en/?search=Freedman