The Land That Was Promised & Stolen

The Land That Was Promised & Stolen

For centuries, land ownership has been the foundation of wealth, stability, and power in America. After the Civil War, newly freed African Americans were promised 40 acres "and a mule" under Special Order No. 15 (1865), a policy designed to provide land for economic independence.

But before this promise could be fully realized, President Andrew Johnson reversed Special Order No. 15, taking back the land and returning it to the same white Confederate landowners who had enslaved African American people.

This decision robbed African Americans of the opportunity to build generational wealth and created a lasting racial wealth gap that still exists today.

                             The Consequences of Land Theft:

• By 1910, African Americans owned 15 million acres of land.

• Due to Jim Crow laws, land theft, and racist policies, over 90% of that land was lost.

• Today, the median African American household wealth is $24,000, while the median white household wealth is $188,000, largely due to land ownership disparities.

The refusal to provide reparations for this theft is not just an injustice, it is a violation of international human rights laws.

The Land That Was Promised & Stolen

For centuries, land ownership has been the foundation of wealth, stability, and power in America. After the Civil War, newly freed African Americans were promised 40 acres "and a mule" under Special Order No. 15 (1865), a policy designed to provide land for economic independence.

But before this promise could be fully realized, President Andrew Johnson reversed Special Order No. 15, taking back the land and returning it to the same white Confederate landowners who had enslaved African American people.

This decision robbed African Americans of the opportunity to build generational wealth and created a lasting racial wealth gap that still exists today.

                             The Consequences of Land Theft:

• By 1910, African Americans owned 15 million acres of land.

• Due to Jim Crow laws, land theft, and racist policies, over 90% of that land was lost.

• Today, the median African American household wealth is $24,000, while the median white household wealth is $188,000, largely due to land ownership disparities.

The refusal to provide reparations for this theft is not just an injustice, it is a violation of international human rights laws.

The U.S. has committed to multiple international treaties and human rights agreements that require reparations for historical racial injustices. Yet, it refuses to provide land reparations to African Americans.

                     International Laws the U.S. is Violating:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948)

• Article 17: Everyone has the right to own property, and no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their property.Violation: The U.S. systematically stole land from African Americans, denied them property rights, and has refused to compensate them.

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD, 1965)

• Article 6: Governments must provide reparations for racial discrimination.Violation: The U.S. ratified ICERD in 1994, meaning it is legally bound to eliminate racial discrimination. Refusing to compensate African Americans for land loss directly violates this treaty.

The Durban Declaration (2001)

• Declares that the Transatlantic Slave Trade was a crime against humanity and urges governments to take “effective measures” to correct the harm done.Violation: The U.S. refused to fully sign on to this agreement and has never acknowledged legal responsibility for slavery, Jim Crow, or land dispossession.

                                                                           The Bottom Line:

Denying land reparations to Black Americans isn’t just racist policy, it’s a violation of international law.

The international community has repeatedly told the U.S. that it must provide reparations, yet the government continues to ignore these demands.

2016 – The UN Working Group on People of African Descent:

• Declared that the U.S. must provide reparations to African Americans due to the lasting impacts of slavery.

• Recommended land reparations as a key form of compensation.The U.S. ignored these recommendations.

2023 – The UN Special Rapporteur on Racism:

• Called out the U.S. for its systemic racial discrimination and economic exclusion of African Americans.No reparations, no compensation, no land returned.

The U.S. has provided reparations to other groups:Japanese American Internment (1988): $1.6 billion paid to survivors.Native American Land Trusts: Millions of acres returned.9/11 Victims Fund: Over $7 billion given to families.

But the U.S. refuses to provide reparations to African Americans, despite the economic destruction caused by slavery, Jim Crow, and racist land policies.

This is a racial double standard and a clear human rights violation.

What Can Be Done Now?

Even if the U.S. government refuses to act, there are legal and activist solutions that can be pursued right now.

1. Filing a Human Rights Complaint Against the U.S.

Black advocacy groups and legal teams can file an official complaint with:

• The UN Special Rapporteur on Racism

• The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

This puts global pressure on the U.S. to acknowledge its human rights violations.

2. Pushing for State Level & Local Reparations

Even if Congress refuses to act, state and city governments can implement reparations.

• California’s Reparations Task Force is currently considering land based reparations.

• Evanston, Illinois, has already begun providing housing reparations.

• States can return stolen land or create buyback programs to help African American families reclaim property.

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3. Establishing Community Land Trusts (CLTs) to Secure African American Land

• African American communities can create land trusts to protect property from gentrification.

• These nonprofit land holding organizations ensure that African American owned land stays in African American hands.

• Atlanta, Durham, and Oakland already have successful African American led land trusts.

                              This can be done NOW without government approval.

The U.S. government has continuously violated international human rights laws by denying African Americans land reparations, despite its legal obligation under United Nations treaties and human rights agreements.

For centuries, African Americans have been denied land ownership, robbed of wealth, and excluded from economic opportunities. The reversal of Special Order No. 15, Jim Crow laws, and discriminatory policies led to the loss of over 90% of African American owned land, a direct cause of today’s racial wealth gap.

Despite this, the U.S. has: Refused to provide land reparations to African Americans. Violated the UN’s human rights agreements that demand reparations. Compensated other groups for historical injustices but excluded African Americans.

                               

Why This Information Matters​Why This Petition Matters

• The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) states that “everyone has the right to own property, and no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of it.

• The U.S. ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in 1994, which legally obligates the U.S. to provide reparations for racial discrimination.

• The UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (2016) declared that African Americans must receive reparations, yet the U.S. government has ignored this recommendation.

• The U.S. has provided reparations to other groups but refuses to compensate African Americans for slavery, Jim Crow, and land dispossession.

 This is an internationally recognized human rights violation. We must take action now.

FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

📌 What is Special Order No. 15? It was a military order issued in 1865 by General William T. Sherman that promised 400,000 acres of confiscated Confederate land to freed African American families (40 acres per family). President Andrew Johnson reversed the order, returning the land to former Confederate owners, leaving African Americans with nothing.

📌 How does denying land reparations violate international law?The U.S. is legally bound under ICERD (1994), the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and the Durban Declaration (2001), all of which require reparations for racial discrimination and human rights violations. The U.S. is violating these treaties by refusing to provide land reparations to African Americans.

📌 Has the U.S. paid reparations to other groups?Yes. The U.S. has given reparations to:Japanese Americans (1988) – $1.6 billion paid for internment during WWII.Native Americans – Millions of acres of land returned.9/11 Victims Fund – Over $7 billion given to families.

But African Americans have received nothing for slavery, Jim Crow, and land dispossession. This is a racial double standard.

📌 What happens after I sign this petition?Your signature will be sent to:✔ The United Nations Human Rights Council urging them to investigate the U.S. for human rights violations.✔ Members of Congress and state lawmakers to demand land reparations.✔ Local governments to create community land trusts and financial support for African American landowners.