Virtual Conference
America 500K:
Honoring the 500,000 Enslaved at the
Dawn of the American Revolution
JUNE 6, 2026
Why We Gather
In light of America 250, this conference centers the lives of the half-million enslaved people living in British North America as the nation moved toward independence — people too often erased from America’s founding narrative, yet essential to its creation.
This year, we come together for one powerful day to honor, remember, and discover. We celebrate members of our community who uplift our ancestors through genealogical research, storytelling, and the sacred act of speaking their names.
Together, we reclaim our past to strengthen our future — honoring those who came before us, and guiding those who will follow.
What To Expect
Keynote Address
Our distinguished keynote speaker will anchor the day with a message woven directly from the theme of this year’s conference — America 500K: Honoring the 500,000 Enslaved at the Dawn of the American Revolution. Come prepared to be moved, informed, and inspired.
Awards Celebrations
We are proud to honor this year’s Service Award and Phillis Wheatley Book Award recipients — members and scholars who have dedicated their work to preserving the legacy of our ancestors. Their contributions remind us why this work matters.
Rememberance Ceremony
We will pause together in a solemn and beautiful remembrance honoring all enslaved and freed ancestors whose sacrifices, resilience, and love made us possible. Come ready to say their names.
Exclusive Sidebar Presentations — For Ticket Holders Only
This year, we are proud to introduce Sidebar Presentations — intimate, focused sessions available exclusively to conference ticket holders. These sessions go deeper, offering scholarly insight, personal testimony, and discovery you will not find anywhere else.
This year’s Sidebar topics include:
- Submit to Our Journal — Roots & Remembrance is preparing its first edition. Hear directly from our editorial team about submitting your research, family history, or scholarly article. Be part of history — literally. Review submission guidelines here.
- Revolutionary War Soldiers of African Descent — A deep dive into the documented and underdocumented African American men who took up arms in the fight for American independence, and what their service means for lineage documentation today.
- Our European Ancestors Who Fought for Freedom — Descendants of enslaved people share personal research journeys discovering European ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War — complex, layered stories that expand our understanding of lineage.
- Discovering St. Augustine: Members of African Descent — New discoveries about the African and African-descended community in St. Augustine, Florida — one of the oldest sites of Black freedom-seeking in North America — and what they mean for descendants today.
Register and Buy Your Ticket Now to Access These Sessions
SDUSMP JOURNAL
We are also proud to announce our upcoming Journal.
If you would like to submit, for it, please click here.
ABOUT US
Sons & Daughters of the United States Middle Passage
Sons & Daughters of the United States Middle Passage (SDUSMP) is a lineage society for descendants of individuals enslaved in English colonial America and the United States of America from 1619-1865. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of our freed and enslaved ancestors. The organization was started in 2011 and incorporated in Washington, D.C. SDUSMP is a non-profit, charitable 501(c)3 organization.
Questions?
We’re here to help!
Whether you’re new to genealogy, need help registering, or just want to learn more, feel free to reach out