American Freedmen Commission

The American Freedmen Commission is dedicated to examining both the historic and ongoing harms experienced by Cantabrigian descendants of enslaved people and to identifying pathways toward meaningful reparations. More than eighty-five percent of our Commissioners identify as descendants of chattel slavery. This shared lineage brings depth and lived experience to our work, informing how we honor the past, make sense of present-day inequities, and advance a more just and equitable future for our community.

Commissioners will also work together to design a strategy to: 

• Investigate and report on historical, systemic, and/or ongoing harms done to American Freedmen by the Federal, Massachusetts, and/or Cambridge governments and make recommendations to the City concerning implementing sustainable solutions for transitional justice and prompt reparations for Cambridge Resident American Freedmen. 
• Increase public awareness and understanding of the Commission's work and outcomes from investigations and research. 
• Develop a community engagement strategy to engage community members across the City of Cambridge  
• Collaborate with community organizations and coalitions to promote the advancement of the American Freedmen Commission.