Foundational Black Americans (FBA) are the proud descendants of the Black men and women who endured and survived one of the greatest atrocities in human history—American slavery. These resilient ancestors built the United States from the ground up, laying the foundation for the nation's economic, political, and cultural development. However, the rich history of FBA did not begin in 1619 with the arrival of enslaved Black people in Virginia. It began nearly a century earlier.
In 1526, Spanish colonizer Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón brought the first documented enslaved Black people to the shores of what is now the South Carolina and Georgia coastline. Shortly after their arrival, these enslaved Black people courageously revolted against their captors, leading to the collapse of the Spanish settlement. The surviving Spaniards retreated to the Caribbean, leaving behind the liberated Black people. These freed Black people integrated with local Native American societies, marking a pivotal and often overlooked chapter in the lineage and cultural evolution of Foundational Black Americans.
Since that defining moment in 1526, the culture and identity of Foundational Black Americans have been deeply rooted in building, resilience, resistance, and an unwavering fight for justice. This spirit of perseverance and ingenuity has shaped every aspect of American society, from infrastructure and agriculture to music, art, and political activism. FBA are an exceptional people whose enduring legacy continues to inspire generations.
It is important to clarify that Foundational Black Americans (FBA) is not a group or an organization, and there is no designated leader of FBA. FBA is a lineage-based designation that specifically refers to the over 43 million Black Americans who are direct descendants of the Freedmen—the formerly enslaved Black people who were emancipated in the United States. This lineage represents a unique and unbroken connection to the foundational builders of this nation.
We honor and celebrate the rich history, cultural contributions, and unyielding strength of Foundational Black Americans. This recognition is not only a tribute to our ancestors but also a commitment to preserving and advancing the legacy they established.
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The FBA Nation Maroon Flag commemorates the legacy of Foundational Black American maroons who fought for freedom in America during the formal slavery era. Thousands of Foundational Black Americans escaped bondage and formed their own independent maroon communities in swamp areas around the Southern United States.
The axes and torch on the flag represents the weapons used by many maroons to obtain their freedom. Even though there were dozens of maroon communities around the country, the 5 stars on the maroon flag represent the 5 primary locations where maroon societies were established:
1. Virginia
2. North/South Carolina
3. Florida
4. Mississippi
5. Louisiana
Arutisuse ( pronounced Ah-rut-tee-SUE-see) is a holiday that celebrates the Foundational Black American culture of freedom fighting and resistance.
Arutisuse means Arise In the traditional Foundational Black American TUT language
During the antebellum slavery period in America, many Foundational Black Americans would cleverly plot and execute their escape from bondage around the Christmas season.
These enslaved freedom warriors understood that slave owners would be more preoccupied with holiday festivities during this time of year. Also, enslaved Foundational Black Americans were allowed more access to visit family and friends on other plantations during this season as well.
The rebel warriors used these relaxed policies as an opportunity to rise to freedom.
Another celebration that was prevalent among enslaved people in the Americas was a parade called Junkanoo. Foundational Black Americans engaged in these activities around Christmas time, where they would parade around to different plantations playing multiple instruments, while dressed in outrageous costumes. They would often dress in costumes that mocked the white slave owners. Some believe the Junkanoo celebrations were often used as distractions to divert attention away from the enslaved people who were trying to escape to freedom.
Arutisuse or Arise Day will be celebrated every year on December 24th. On this day, Foundational Black Americans should gift another person a book that will lift the consciousness of that person. This will pay homage to the Foundational Black American ancestors who risked their lives learning how to read and teaching others how to read.
Understanding this history will help us step into each new year with a sense of empowerment and we will make that empowerment part of our tradition and culture.
Represents the 3 groups who make up the ethnic group that would become Foundational Black Americans:
*The Black aboriginal people of North America
*The Black explorers and traders who had contact with the Americas before Columbus
*The captives brought to the Western Hemisphere from Africa
Represents the non-stop fight that Foundational Black Americans have engaged in against white supremacy. This battle began on this land in 1526
Represents the historic camaraderie and peace between the Black skinned aboriginal and the Black captives on this land
Represents the system of white supremacy being a constant threat, and the activity on top represents Foundational Black Americans never surrendering to white supremacy
Pays homage to the Foundational Black American teen girl Grace Wisher who helped craft the current United States Flag
Represents the 9 significant slave rebellions the shaped policies on this land:
1.San Miguel de Gualdape-1526
2. New York Slave Revolt-1712
3. Chesapeake Rebellion-1730
4. Stono Rebellion-1739
5. Gabriel Prosser Rebellion-1800
6. German Coast Uprising-1811
7. Denmark Vesey's Rebellion-1822
8. Nat Turner's Rebellion-1831
9. The Black Seminole Maroon Wars-1816 to 1842*
*(This successful rebellion is commonly hidden, and that's why one of the red stripes on the flag is hidden behind the Black power fist)
A Foundational Black American is any person classified as Black, who can trace their bloodline lineage back to the American system of slavery. To be designated as a FBA, at least one parent must come from a non-immigrant background in The United States of America.
If a person's matrilineal and patrilineal lineage traces back to slavery in the Caribbean, then they are not considered a Foundational Black American.
The process of determining if you are a descendant of Foundational Black American survivors of the American slave trade is relatively easy. Five years after formal slavery was abolished in America, the US government provided detailed information about the Foundational Black American population for the first time. The 1870 Census provided the first detailed accounting of the Black population, and if a person can trace their lineage to the 1870 Census, they are most likely a descendant of Foundational Black Americans who were enslaved.
The 1900 Census is also a good verification resource. Because of the influx of immigrants to the US at the time, the 1900 Census has even more detailed information which includes:
*Race
*Citizenship
*Nativity- Meaning the birthplace of a person's parents
This type of information is important when Foundational Black Americans present a reparations claim. Because every potential beneficiary should be able to provide plausible and legitimate documentation about their lineage.
If you are a person classified as Black, who has one parent from an immigrant background, and another parent who can be traced to the American slave plantations, then you are considered a Foundational Black American still.
There is a very important caveat with this designation.
An FBA individual who's non-FBA parental lineage comes from a person who immigrated to the United States after 1970, should not be considered, or looked upon as a representative or spokesperson for serious political, social, economic or judicial issues that affect Foundational Black Americans collectively.
The only exception to this rule, is if the half-FBA individual has a verified track record of loyalty, and tangible contributions to the betterment of Foundational Black Americans on a grassroots level. The reason this rule applies to half-FBA people who's immigrant lineage came to the US after 1970, is because the African and Caribbean immigrants before that time frame had a different collective disposition, in relation to FBA.
The Immigration Act of 1965 was a law that Foundational Black Americans fought for in order to help Black people from Africa and the Caribbean come to the US, and assist FBA as reinforcement against systematic white supremacy. This was because the few Black people who were able to immigrate to the US before 1965 acted as strong allies to Foundational Black Americans. During the Jim Crow era in America, African and Caribbean immigrants did not have their own segregated enclaves apart from FBA. In order for them to thrive, they had to have unity with Foundational Black Americans, and get on code with them against the common enemy, which was /is white supremacy.
Because of their track record of loyalty and dedication to the fight against white supremacy during this era, many Black immigrants and half-FBA activists became respected spokespersons for Foundational Black Americans. People like Jamaican immigrant Marcus Garvey, and half-FBA Malcolm X (who's father was FBA and mother was from Grenada) became icons to FBA.
After 1970, things changed.
J Edgar Hoover's FBI COINTELPRO agenda was in full swing at this time, targeting and neutralizing Black organizations and any forms of Black solidarity with other empowerment minded individuals. This was also the time when large groups of African and Caribbean immigrants were being allowed to come to the US. The government would come up with ways to use some immigrant groups as buffers against Foundational Black Americans. The US government didn't intend on allowing another Marcus Garvey or Stokely Carmichael type of immigrant come among FBA society.
Starting in the 1970's the US government implement a benign neglect policy against Foundational Black Americans, while they began to prioritize allocating tangible resources to immigrant groups. Consequently, this incentivized many individuals from immigrant backgrounds to collaborate with white supremacists and sabotage progress for FBA.
Historically, there have been two types of half-FBA individuals, in a general sense:
1. Loyalists to their FBA lineage and heritage
2. Anchored Tethers who view FBA society as a group to exploit and ultimately replace.
FBA has to currently be skeptical about certain half-FBA people who want to act as spokespersons for FBA collectively. If a person has dual allegiances to different ethnic groups and cultures, it's difficult to determine if they will look out for the best interest of FBA. Even full FBA who has a history of prioritizing other groups, religions, and sexual intersectionality over the best interests of Foundational Black Americans, must be viewed with reservations.
In almost all native, and aboriginal societies, when the people allowed outsiders with dual allegiances to other nations or ethnic groups to act as their representatives, this ultimately caused the decline of their societies. This happened in the 16th century when Portuguese colonizers called Lancados married into royal West African families. The mixed race offspring from these unions who were elevated to powerful positions, often sided with the Europeans side of their lineage, to ultimately undermine African society, and help facilitate the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
The same thing happened to many Native American tribes who allowed European colonizers to intermarry into their groups and become representatives for them. This was the beginning of the decline of their societies.
In modern times, the white establishment deliberately elevates non-FBA or anchored tethers to act as spokespersons and leaders for Foundational Black Americans. And the results of this practice has been devastating for FBA. For this reason, Foundational Black Americans should only consider other qualified full FBA representatives to act as spokespersons for the collective interests of the ethnic group.