Sankofa Emancipation Project

Sankofa, a principle derived from the Akan people of Ghana, teaches that one should remember the past to make positive progress in the future. It challenges us to consider our identity, culture, and personhood as we look back and forward.

John Henry "Jack" Yates (July 11, 1828 – December 22, 1897) was a hero recognized as the “Father of Black Houston.  Yates works were not the cause of salvation, but evidence of his salvation.  When Yates and his family first came out of slavery, in 1865, there were no institutions for African Americans in Houston.  He helped establish Freedman's Town, purchased property, and began ministering to the community. In 1868, Yates was named the first full-time preacher of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Houston's first Black Baptist church. As a community leader, Yates organized Houston Academy, now Booker T. Washington High School; Bethel Baptist Church; and Houston's Emancipation Park. 

It is through Yates’ life and legacy that we can see that freedom takes work.  Fueled by prayer and a connection to the unseen, there is no doubting Yates devotion and trust in the sacred or the divine.  Black faith, today, is much more complicated.  For many of us Christianity is a core element of our identities, even if we haven’t attended a church service in decades or led spotless lives.  For those of us of different faiths, Black church is almost always rooted in our family lineage.

Regardless of who or what you believe in, good works serve to make our faith tangible and meaningful, benefiting both ourselves and those around us.  What kind of Ancestor do you want to be?   This question stretches beyond how we individually want to be remembered by our descendants. It is about the systems that we set in motion, every moment of every day. Each of our actions connects people and places across time and space.  We are all future ancestors.

“Faith Without Works Is Dead” - James 2:14-26

The “Sankofa Emancipation Project” invites us all to look back on our history, and remember that freedom is joy, the reciprocation of human respect, and the ability to live in dignity. This effort is led by artist Kristi Rangel and her fellow creative collaborators, Tamirah Collins, April M. Frazier, and Brittany Mayfield. Their collective efforts will result in several community-based activations designed to create beloved community fueled by radical joy and happiness. 

Support the Sankofa Emancipation Project

The Ancestor Question

The question of “what kind of ancestor do you want to be” stretches beyond how we individually want to be remembered by our descendants. It is about the systems that we set in motion, every moment of every day. Each of our actions connects people and places across time and space. The Sankofa Emancipation Project calls us to see ourselves already as ancestors. We are all future ancestors, so with the decision-making power that you have now, what kind of ancestor do you want to be?

Ancestor Card Responses

Part II Photo Session

Answer The Ancestor Question Here

Current Events

Honor the Past. Embody the Future.

Houstonians of African descent to take part in the 2nd activation of the Sankofa Emancipation Project. Its theme is “Faith without works is dead”. This is a reflection on Black faith and the power of collective action. Come wearing some type of hat, headwrap or covering that conveys your faith practice or the faith practice of your ancestors. Photos will be taken on the steps of the Bethel Church Historic Site. There will be a pew decorated with white flowers (signifying faith, hope and perseverance) as a part of an original floral installation created by Brittany Mayfield. Participants are encouraged to dress in bright vibrant colors.

The “Sankofa Emancipation Project” reconnects us to the history, radical joy, and celebration of “Jubilee Day”. Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day, began in 1866 and the new holiday was celebrated in several places across Texas. Bethel Baptist Church was built in 1865 by the late Jack Yates and his followers who created Houston’s Freedman's Town, a reverent haven for African Americans.

Participants will be photographed by April M. Frazier at the Bethel Historic Church Site, and images from the event will be added to the Sankofa Emancipation Project’s digital archive. The images will debut December 6, 2025 at the opening of the Community Artists’ Collective Ashé Holiday Market and will be accompanied by holiday bites, music, and a special pop-up art installation.

The Community Artists’ Collective Ashé Holiday Market features a curated selection of unique gifts and items made by local artisans. Additional items include African fabric, masks and other art pieces from various African nations. Admission is free.

Register for Photo Session

Opening Night - Friday, October 17 7 PM at MECA

Multicultural Education and Community Through The Arts

1900 Kane St, Houston, TX 77007

Noche De La Ofrenda

Join the Sankofa Emancipation Project team members at the opening of their ancestor altar at MECA. Adorned in marigold flowers, the altar highlights photos of beloved family members and includes ancestral artifacts placed in remembrance for those that came before us.

Past Project Events

Sankofa Emancipation Project Photo Session at Eldorado Ballroom

Project Press

The Sankofa Emancipation Project Photo Session at the Eldorado Ballroom and the Juneteenth en Black event at Community Artists’ Collective were graciously supported by: Ion District, Third Ward Cultural District, DiverseCity Realty, and our community.

Jubilee Day Photo Credit

Photo 1: Woman parading through Freedman’s Town, Houston, TX, 1908. Photo by Photo by Schlueter.

Photo 2: Daniel N. Leathers, Jubilee Day, Corpus Christie, TX, 1913. Photo by G. McCuistion.

Photo 3: Martha Yates Jones (left) and Pinkie Yates (right), daughters of Rev. Jack Yates, Antioch Baptist Church, Freedman’s Town, Houston, TX 1908. Photo by Schlueter.

For more information about the Sankofa Emancipation Project please send an email to: sankofaep@thecollective.org