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.

Non-Organizational Status & Lineage-Based Identity

Foundational Black American (FBA) is a historical, lineage-based designation referring to the descendants of Black individuals who were enslaved and emancipated in the United States. FBA is not an organization, political group, activist movement, or entity with a leadership structure. It is solely a cultural and ancestral identity that reflects the unique history and contributions of this lineage to American society.

Accordingly, individuals who identify as FBA do so based on their lineage and cultural heritage—not due to any affiliation with an organized group, political ideology, or collective membership. No single individual, influencer, or public figure speaks on behalf of all FBAs, nor does any FBA hold authority over another person’s identity or actions.

FBA FLAG MEANING

THE 3 STARS
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

THE FIST
Represents the non-stop fight that Foundational Black Americans have engaged in against white supremacy. This battle began on this land in 1526

THE OLIVE BRANCHES
Represents the historic camaraderie and peace between the Black skinned aboriginal and the Black captives on this land

THE WHITE BACKGROUND
Represents the system of white supremacy being a constant threat, and the activity on top represents Foundational Black Americans never surrendering to white supremacy

THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE COLOR SCHEME
Pays homage to the Foundational Black American teen girl Grace Wisher who helped craft the current United States Flag

THE 9 RED STRIPES
Represents the 9 significant slave rebellions that 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

Who Is Foundational Black American & Who Is Not?

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 an 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.

How Does a Person Trace Their Lineage Back to American Slavery?

The 1870 Census was the first detailed accounting of the Black population in the U.S. If a person can trace their family lineage to this census, they are most likely a descendant of FBA survivors of American slavery.

The 1900 Census also serves as a strong verification tool. It includes information on:
• Race
• Citizenship
• Nativity – the birthplace of a person's parents

This documentation is key when making reparations claims, ensuring that every beneficiary can verify their FBA lineage with legitimacy.

What About Half-FBA People?

If you have one parent who is FBA and another who is not, you are still considered FBA. However, if your non-FBA parent immigrated to the U.S. after 1970, you should not be elevated as a spokesperson for the group unless you have proven loyalty and tangible contributions to the FBA cause.

The Shift After 1970

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 to come among FBA society.

Starting in the 1970s, the US government implemented 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.

The Danger of Dual Allegiances

Historically, there have been two types of half-FBA individuals:
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 European side of their lineage, ultimately undermining African society and helping 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 have 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.

Only we can speak for us. Only we know our lineage. And only we can protect what our ancestors built with blood, brilliance, and resistance.