SOFAFEA | 2026 Feb News

February 2026 Newsletter

As we observe Black History Month, we take time to honor the lives, voices, and lasting contributions of African Americans, while also recognizing the challenges facing our nation today. February invites reflection not only on the past, but on the present—where issues of equity, representation, and historical understanding continue to shape public discourse. By remembering stories of resilience, service, and leadership, we are reminded that Black history is a living legacy, offering insight, strength, and guidance as we move forward together.

We are pleased to formally announce our upcoming Annual Conference a signature gathering that brings together members, family, scholars, and friends to celebrate our shared history and advance our mission.

Please Join Us for a Special VIP Event *America 250:* Forgotten Patriots A Dream Yet To Be Realized Museum of the American Revolution 101 South Third Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 Conference Weekend: May 1 - 2, 2026
Luncheon: Friday May 1, 2026 Hilton Philadelphia Hotel at Penn’s Landing	Black Tie Reception: Friday, May 1, 2026 Museum of the American Revolution
Conference/Summit: Saturday, May 2, 2026 Museum of the American Revolution
Click here more information
Click here to register

A Moment In History

Receipt for payment of poll tax, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, 1917

In the January 22, 2026, United States Capitol Historical Society Newsletter reminded us that:

On January 23, 1964, the 24th Amendment was ratified. Nearly 100 years earlier, In 1870, the 15th Amendment was ratified, granting all men the right to vote, regardless of skin color. Despite this, many African Americans faced other state laws and regulations that restricted their access to the ballot box. One very prevalent law was a poll tax requiring voters to pay a fee to enter the polling place and cast their ballot. This prevented impoverished African Americans Whites, but was predominantly aimed at Black Americans. In the 1930s and 40s, poll tax criticism grew. An investigation of poll taxes and voter restriction was conducted under President Harry S. Truman in 1948. Ultimately, nothing came of the investigation as federal attention was placed elsewhere. By 1962 all but five states, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia, abandoned poll taxes.

On August 27, 1962, Congress proposed the 24th Amendment to eliminate the poll tax. The proposed amendment passed the House (295-86) and Senate (77-16) and was sent to the states for ratification on September 24, 1962. Once ratified, the 24th amendment abolished and forbid federal and state governments from imposing taxes on voters at federal election sites.

Despite the amendment, however, poll taxes persisted. It took a supreme court case to challenge the existing poll taxes. The Supreme Course decision Harper v Virginia Board of Elections in 1966 that ruled all poll taxes (federal, state, and local) unconstitutional. This amendment, Supreme Court ruling, and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made great strides towards eliminating segregation and bringing equality to all Americans.

This serves as a reminder that we must exercise our right and always get out every election day and VOTE.

Special Edition Journal

Franklin Pearson Publishing an imprint of the Society of the First African Families of English America (SOFAFEA) proudly announces the publication of its 2025-2026 Special Edition Journal, a landmark issue dedicated to illuminating the history, legacy, and enduring contributions of America’s Forgotten Patriots.

This commemorative edition features original research, historical analysis, genealogical insights, and compelling narratives of scholars, historians and descendants Lisa Fox and Saundra White Shelley; Laura D. Harver; Jacqueline Long; Orice Jenkins; Debra Newton-Carter; Judith Sanford-Harris, PhD; and Baba Gene R. Stephenson II. Their scholarship sheds new light on their Forgotten Patriot ancestors and the foundational role of African-descended families in the development of English America. Educators, genealogists, historians, lineage society members, and the broader public will find in this special issue a rich and carefully curated resource that both honors the past and deepens the national conversation during this pivotal period of historical reflection and the founding of our nation 250 years ago. The 2025-2026 Special Edition Journal is now available on Amazon …click here.

National Inventors Hall of Fame

The National Inventors Hall of Fame will be presenting its 2026 Inductees whose accomplishments have contributed to society in remarkable ways during Black History Month. These inventors have advanced the spirit of innovation in both tangible and intangible ways through their inventions that change lives and inspire others to pursue their dreams.

Among the notable Hall of Fame Inductees to be celebrated this February are: Marian Croak who has worked on advancing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Technology, by converting voice data into digital signals that can be easily transmitted over the internet. Her work has allowed VoIP to become a practical reality by enabling reliability and high quality. Today, VoIP technology is vital for remote work and conferencing, as well as personal communications; Kerrie Holley who pioneered Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), a software architecture and programming model for large enterprises, benefiting organizations across many industries; and James A. Parsons Jr. who created corrosion-resistant, Stainless Steel Alloy in the 1930s, the alloy is still widely used today in industrial processes that involve corrosive chemicals.

Meet the Award Winning Authors

At The SOFAFEA Conference
May 1-2, 2026

Please click here for details on purchasing the book
in paperback or Kindle.

Join President General Douglas A. Cornwall at our Society booth in March at RootsTech 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

SOFAFEA founder Ric Murphy President General Emeritus will be speaker on two America 250 sessions: Historical and Genealogical Importance of America’s Forgotten Patriots and the Spanish, African and International Ancestor’s Contributions to the American Revolution; and a session on The Society of the First African Families of English America Aids in Historical & Genealogical Research.

Society member and Vice Genealogist General Orice Jenkins will be conducting a session on Taxes and Tithes: Researching Enslaved Communities in Colonial Virginia, and a second session on Using Historical Geography to Pinpoint Locations in Your Family’s Past. Society member Andre Kearns’ presentation topic is From Virginia to Guam: Tracing A Black Family via DNA and Maritime Records.

Members Gigi Best Richardson and Skip Richardson will also be bringing their traveling museum. Salt Lake City – SOFAFEA will be in the house!

For the kick-off of this month’s Black History Forum, the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina, with host SOFAFEA member Dr. Shelley Murphy and Producer Brian Sheffey a podcast on African American Veterans: From the Revolution to World Wars with SOFAFEA 2026 Honoree Dr. Alfred Brothers and Ric Murphy ...to see the podcast please click here.

News Makers

The Society congratulates SOFAFEA member Carla Clarke who was recently appointed as the National Chair of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s prestigious E Pluribus Unum Committee. We look forward to working with Chairman Clarke on DAR’s most important initiative.
SOFAFEA member Saundra Russ Cropps of the South Atlantic Region presented to the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society-Triangle Chapter the story of her Forgotten Patriot ancestor Private Jesse Harris at the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church with the Wake County Historical Society and Wake County Genealogical Society. Russ Cropps shared how her ancestor Private Jesse Harris (1762-1844) was a free Black man who served for 18 months in the 10th North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army after being hired by a "class of men" to fulfill their service obligation.

Subscribe a Friend to SOFAFEA's Newsletter

Stay connected with the stories that shape our shared past and inspire our future. Here, you’ll find the latest issues of our newsletter—featuring project updates, upcoming events, behind-the-scenes insights, and profiles of the people who bring history to life.

Each edition of our newsletter offers a closer look at our Society's ongoing research, community initiatives, and partnerships that honor the legacy of our ancestors who helped build our nation. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or a new reader, this is your gateway to the discoveries, milestones, and reflections that keep our mission moving forward.

For more information

The Society of the First African Families of English America is a 501(c)3 organizations that relies on contributions, and all contributions are tax deductible.

You are receiving this email because you indicated an interest in the
Society of the First African Families of English America