Who We Are?
Our Mission
We believe educating America about the authentic history of Black Americans is the best unifying principle for America. AR1870 is dedicated to reshaping the historical and cultural narrative surrounding American history. The organization recognizes that controlling the narrative is essential for fostering cultural pride, dismantling systemic anti-Blackness, and ensuring that the legacy of Black Americans is preserved, honored, and celebrated.
Our Origins: The Birth of American Renewal 1870
Over the past three years, we have actively highlighted Washington State’s historical narrative surrounding reparations for descendants of U.S. chattel slavery. From the fires of this activism, American Renewal 1870 was born—a non-profit dedicated to dramatizing, curating, and bringing authentic stories of Black Americans to life. This movement is a renaissance in real-time, where Black Americans are drawing from the greatness of their ancestors—persevering through adversity, pioneering in science and medicine, revolutionizing sports, and creating all music genres. American Renewal represents this rebirth, while 1870 marks a pivotal moment—the first census where newly emancipated Black Americans were counted and the first time Black men voted. We are here to document this history and share it with the world.
Our Core Values
- Empowerment – We believe in empowering Black Americans to tell their own stories, ensuring their voices are heard, respected, and amplified in historical and cultural discourse.
- ✅ Community Engagement – We foster meaningful dialogue and action within communities, creating spaces where people can connect, learn, and work together toward historical truth and justice.
- ✅ Education – We prioritize fact-based, accessible, and engaging educational initiatives that illuminate the full scope of Black American history and its impact on shaping the nation.
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Advocacy – We challenge stereotypes, combat systemic anti-blackness, and push for policies and initiatives that promote accurate, positive representations of Black Americans in history and culture.
- ✅ Collaboration – We partner with historians, educators, activists, and organizations to strengthen our collective ability to preserve and promote authentic Black American history.
Through these core values, AR1870 is committed to reclaiming and controlling the narrative—ensuring that Black American history is not just remembered, but celebrated and used as a foundation for unity and progress.