To President Donald J. Trump and the United States Government:

We, the undersigned, urge you to take decisive action in renaming Black History Month to Freedmen History Month. The term “Black” is an overly broad racial identifier which includes individuals who may share racial characteristics but do not share in the unique history, struggles, and contributions of American Freedmen—the descendants of emancipated Americans who helped to build this nation through their labor, resilience, and political activism.

While Dr. Carter G. Woodson originally intended for Negro History Week (which later became Black History Month) to recognize the contributions of all Black people across the African diaspora, we believe it is time to refocus the month on the distinct history of American Freedmen. Too often, the specific sacrifices and achievements of Freedmen—who endured slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and economic dispossession—are diluted or overshadowed by a broad, globalized narrative.

Renaming Black History Month to Freedmen History Month will:

1. Clarify the historical identity of the people who were enslaved, emancipated, and later fought for not civil rights in America, but also fought in every American war.
2. Ensure that their unique contributions are not erased or merged into a generalized racial category.
3. Educate Americans on the specific lineage-based history of those who built and shaped the United States through their struggle for freedom, citizenship rights, and equality.
4. Uplift the legacies of historically overlooked Freedmen whose achievements and sacrifices continue to impact this country today.

This change is not about division; it is about historical accuracy and honoring the rightful legacy of American Freedmen. We call upon you, President Trump, to take a bold step in recognizing this distinction and ensuring that future generations have a deeper understanding of American history, American perseverance, and American Freedmen.

Sign this petition and stand with us in calling for the renaming of Black History Month to Freedmen History Month!