Who We Are
Our Mission
American Renewal 1870 (AR1870) exists to close the gap between the intent of laws designed to remedy the condition of the Freedmen and their descendants and how those laws are carried out in practice.
We defend, protect, and advance the interests of Descendants of U.S. Chattel Slavery by ensuring that public policy is implemented lawfully, resources are delivered with integrity, and systems produce measurable outcomes.
At the same time, we elevate, preserve, and expand the cultural foundation of this community—a culture forged through resilience, innovation, and contribution that has shaped and continues to influence the world.
Through legislative engagement, public education, coalition coordination, and active oversight, we operate inside real-time policy environments to influence outcomes, verify execution, and ensure transparency.
Our mission is not only to help shape policy—but to ensure it is enforced, effective, and aligned with both the material and cultural advancement of the community it was designed to serve.
Our Origins: The Birth of American Renewal 1870
American Renewal 1870 (AR1870) emerged from the unfinished work of reparative justice and the early realization that advocacy alone would not be enough to secure lasting outcomes. Its foundation began in conversations surrounding reparations on Twitter, where a small group of committed individuals came together to bring clarity, discipline, and direction to lineage-based advocacy.
Originally composed of nine to ten individuals organizing in Seattle, King County, and across Washington State, this group worked to advance a precise understanding of reparations grounded in lineage. Through their efforts within the Freedmen Affairs Committee of the NAACP King County branch and broader coalition work, they helped shape the early movement for lineage-based reparations in Washington.
From the beginning, there was a clear understanding that this work would require its own institution. AR1870 was formed to carry forward that mission with permanence, structure, and accountability. Its purpose was not only to advocate, but to ensure that the rights and interests of Descendants of United States Chattel Slavery are protected, enforced, and advanced across all systems that affect them.
The name reflects this commitment. The year 1870 marks the first United States Census in which formerly enslaved Black Americans were recorded by name, establishing a verifiable anchor for lineage. AR1870 centers this standard to ensure that those directly impacted by slavery are not symbolic participants, but the rightful beneficiaries and architects of repair.
The same community these laws were designed to protect is also the origin of a distinct and globally influential culture—one that has driven innovation across music, language, art, economics, and social movements—yet is often extracted from, rather than reinvested into, the people who created it.
AR1870 was built to address both realities:
The organization’s leadership played a role in shaping and advancing Washington State’s Charles Mitchell and George Washington Bush Study on Reparative Action, signed into law by Governor Bob Ferguson. This milestone marked a structural beginning, establishing a lineage-based framework capable of guiding durable legislative repair. AR1870 now carries that work forward as both guardian and enforcer of its integrity.
Our Core Values
At AR1870, our values are operational. They guide how we enforce accountability, protect resources, and advance both the structural and cultural interests of the community.
1. Alignment With Legal and Historical Truth
We ground our work in the lawful intent of Reconstruction-era protections and the historical reality of the Freedmen and their descendants.
We ensure that both policy and narrative remain aligned with truth—not diluted, generalized, or misapplied.
2. Execution Over Symbolism
Policy and culture alike must translate into real outcomes.
We prioritize:
- Lawful implementation of policy
- Tangible economic and social impact
- Protection and advancement of cultural contributions
Recognition without execution is insufficient.
3. Accountability as Infrastructure
Systems must perform as designed.
We ensure that:
- Laws are followed
- Funds are protected
- Outcomes are delivered
- Cultural contributions are not exploited without acknowledgment or benefit
Accountability is the mechanism that protects both resources and legacy.
4. Verification as a Standard
We operate on what can be demonstrated.
Through:
- Public records
- Data and documentation
- Policy analysis
- Cultural and historical evidence
Verification ensures that both policy outcomes and cultural claims are grounded in truth.
5. Cultural Integrity and Global Impact
The culture of Descendants of U.S. Chattel Slavery is distinct, foundational, and globally influential.
We recognize it as:
- A driver of global art, music, language, and innovation
- A core component of American identity
- A valuable asset that must be protected and advanced
We work to ensure this culture is not only consumed worldwide—but respected, accurately represented, and connected back to the community that created it.
6. Structural Repair Through Enforcement
Systemic disparities persist when systems are not enforced.
We intervene across:
- Housing
- Economic mobility
- Education
- Criminal justice and reentry
- Civil rights
To ensure that both material conditions and cultural standing improve together.
7. Community as a Governing Stakeholder
Descendants of U.S. Chattel Slavery are not passive recipients—they are rightful stakeholders.
We build systems that ensure:
- Informed participation
- Structured engagement
- Influence over policy and cultural narratives
8. From Policy to Enforced and Sustained Impact
We move work beyond advocacy:
Intent → Policy → Implementation → Verified Impact → Sustained Cultural and Economic Advancement
9. Intervention Where Systems or Narratives Fail
Where:
- Funds are misused
- Policies are not enforced
- Culture is misrepresented or extracted
We intervene with strategy, oversight, and corrective action.
Core Conviction
When systems are not verified, enforcement weakens.
When enforcement weakens, resources drift.
When resources drift, communities are left without remedy.
And when culture is consumed without protection or reinvestment, legacy is separated from ownership.
AR1870 exists to ensure that both systems and culture function with integrity—lawfully, transparently, and in full service of those they were meant to protect.