American Descendants of Slavery

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American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) is a political group in the United States. The moniker refers to descendants of African Americans that were enslaved in the United States (from its colonial period onward). [1]

Contents

The political movement, and now official organization know as the ADOS advocacy Foundation [2] was born out political activism on social media websites, like Facebook and Twitter in the run up to the United States 2020 Election. According to the groups mission statement it believes:

"A debt must be paid, and our inheritance protected. We insist upon an historic, targeted allotment of policy and protections that fulfills the promise of economic inclusion and integrates the descendants of chattel slavery into the drivers of wealth. This restoration—which brings us into alignment with the full measure of our contribution to the U.S.—requires mechanisms to safeguard against subprime and predatory capital and sweeping anti-discrimination legislation targeted for the protection of, and accelerated wealth creation of, the descendants of chattel slavery in the U.S" [3]

The ADOS movement focuses mainly on reparations for the system of Chattel Slavery, Jim Crow, US mass incarceration in the United States. Though its reparations advocacy centers on US born ADOS i.e. Non-immigrant Black Americans it also believes:

"Although our justice claim for reparations is sacred to ADOS, we are fiercely committed to advocating for policies that eliminate the divides faced by black citizens with immigrant backgrounds. We recognize the lived experience of racism and discrimination among all black people in America, and we invite all people from all backgrounds to join this cause."

The above ensures that the unique experience shared by ADOS people in the United States is recognized and the struggles of all black people in America are a part of the ADOS Agenda.

Founders and Founding

The American Descendants of Slavery Organization was founded by Yvette Carnell and Antonio Moore. [4]

Founders

Yvette Carnell, before founding the organization served as staff assistant to United States Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), legislative aide to Congressman Marion Berry (D-AR), and as assistant to the Chair of the Women’s Vote Center at the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Yvette also worked as regional field director for America’s Families United (AFU), where she supervised, mobilized and coordinated the GOTV efforts of multiple non-profit organizations in preparation for upcoming elections. [5] Carnell host a weekly podcast online by the name of Breaking Brown. [6]

Antonio Moore is a Los Angeles based attorney and has most notably worked as a producer on the Emmy nominated documentary entitled Crack in the System presented by Al Jazeera. It tells the story of the effects of Mass Incarceration, Iran Contra and the resulting crack cocaine epidemic that swept across America. Moore is a contributor at Huffington Post providing articles on Black Wealth. [7] Moore host a podcast by the name of Tone Talks where he expounds on topics such as Black Wealth, Poverty, and Economics. [8]

The ADOS Founding

The pivotal moment in the group and organization founding is in the run up to the United States 2020 Election. During an interview on the The Breakfast Club (radio show), during Episode: Kamala Harris Talks 2020 Presidential Run, Legalizing Marijuana, Criminal Justice Reform + More, [9] At minute seventeen Vice President Kamala Harris, then senator was asked by Lenard Larry McKelvey AKA Charlamagne tha God: "Do you have an agenda for black voters?" [10]

After this moment the use of the term "Black agenda" increased in search frequency online in relation to the Presidential election and Kamala Harris respectively. At 500% increased use over the previous year. [11]

The next day the groups official Facebook group was created. By the end of the year in October 2019 the group amassed a following, and had its inaugural conference at St. Saint Stephen Church and Simmons College of Kentucky. With guest like Marianne Williamson and Cornell West. [12]

Political Views

Controversy

Reception

New York Times writer Farah Stockman called ADOS "the most polarizing subject that I have ever tackled". Stockman questioned in November 2019 whether the movement was large enough to warrant discussion on a national level but decided to print an article about the group in The Times. [1]

Hubert Adjei-Kontoh of The Outline opined that "#ADOS has managed to synthesize the black left-wing critique of America's origins with a right-wing belief in the inherent superiority of those who were born in America." [13] Gregory Carr, co-chairman of Afro-American studies at Howard University and a longtime reparations supporter, called ADOS a "weaponized" movement that had become "indefensibly xenophobic and nativist." [14] Kevin Cokley of the University of Texas at Austin is critical of the organization's desire to separate the descendants of slaves from African immigrants and encouraged the two groups to be united under an African American identity. [15] Malcolm Nance described supporters as trolls, calling them "a mix of [African American] proTrump racists [and] nuts." [16] Black commentator and author Roland Martin has described the notion of a "black purity test" as promoted by the movement "nothing but self-hate cloaked in black self-love." [14] Talib Kweli is critical of the group because he believes they are aligned with the Republican Party against immigration. [16] Shireen Mitchell stated the group was making it easier for black voters to justify voting for Donald Trump. [17]

Alvin Bernard Tillery, Jr., an associate professor at Northwestern University, states that the issues ADOS raised on who should receive reparations will have to be reflected upon by the black community. [16] William A. Darity Jr. believes the ADOS' premise is based on a distinctive ethnic identity that exists among the descendants of American slaves. [16] He defended ADOS against nativism claims [18] and believes they are supporting people who have not benefitted in the current American system. [17] Cornel West stated at an ADOS conference in Louisville, Kentucky that the ADOS movement was resuming the work started by Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. [1]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Stockman, Farah (November 13, 2019). "Deciphering ADOS: A New Social Movement or Online Trolls?". The New York Times . Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  2. ↑ ADOS, Advocacy Foundation. "ADOS: Advocacy Foundation". ados foundation. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  3. ↑ "About ADOS – #ADOS". Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  4. ↑ Staples, Gracie Bonds (February 11, 2020). "Why ADOS is unapologetic in seeking reparations, black agenda". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . ISSN   1539-7459. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  5. ↑ Yvette, Carnell. "Yvette Carnell Offical". Linkedin Yvette Carnell official. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  6. ↑ Breaking, Brown. "Breaking Brown YouTube". Youtube @breakingbrown. Yvette Carnell. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ Antonio, Moore. "Antonio Moore bio". Huffington Post Contributor bio. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  8. ↑ Tone, Talks. "Tone Talks YouTube". YouTube @tonetalks. Antonio Moore. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  9. ↑ The Breakfast, Club. "The Breakfast Club (radio show)". Youtube @@BreakfastClubPower1051FM. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  10. ↑ The Breakfast, Club. "Question Time Tag: Do You have an Agenda..." Youtube @@BreakfastClubPower1051FM. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  11. ↑ WDRB, Louisville, KY. "New justice movement with eyes on slavery reparations brings national conference to Louisville". WDRB.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ Adjei-Kontoh, Hubert (November 21, 2019). "The tortured logic of #ADOS". Power. The Outline. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  13. 1 2 Scherer, Michael; Wang, Amy (July 8, 2019). "A few liberal activists challenged Kamala Harris's black authenticity. The president's son amplified their message". Washington Post. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  14. ↑ Cokley, Kevin (February 21, 2020). "Don't pit slavery descendants against black immigrants. Racism doesn't know the difference". USA Today . Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Lynn, Samara (January 19, 2020). "Controversial group ADOS divides black Americans in fight for economic equality". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 19, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  16. 1 2 Stockman, Farah (November 8, 2019). "'We're Self-Interested': The Growing Identity Debate in Black America". The New York Times . p. A1.
  17. ↑ Lowery, Wesley (September 18, 2019). "Which black Americans should get reparations?". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 10, 2020.
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