American Freedmen Commission
Skip to Footer
Official websites use .gov
.gov
website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
lock
) or
means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Have Questions About the Cambridge American Freemen Commission?
Explore frequently asked questions about the Commission.
Reparation Reports and Resources
Review reports and other publications to learn more about the reparations reports and outcomes published locally and across the country.
How to Get Involved or Support the Commission’s Work?
Learn about attending Commission meetings, providing comments, and joining community activities
Meeting Minutes
American Freedman Ordinance
Research My Family Tree
Have Housing Questions?
Notary Public
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.
Contacts
PHONE:
617-349-1731
Email Us
689 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
Coming Up
Apr
28
Tue
American Freedmen Commission Meeting - April 2026
6:30 PM
Join us for a meeting of the American Freedman Commission on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
Apr
28
Tue
American Freedmen Commission Meeting - April 2026
6:30 PM
Join us for a meeting of the American Freedman Commission on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
Apr
28
Tue
American Freedmen Commission Meeting - April 2026
6:30 PM
Join us for a meeting of the American Freedman Commission on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
View All
How can we help?
Please provide as much detail below as possible so City staff can respond to your inquiry:
Description:
Name:
Email:
As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.
Read our complete privacy statement
Service Requests
Enter a service request via SeeClickFix
for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc., click here
Close
US