Boycott: Arthur Kwon Lee for Offensive post against Freedmen

The American Freedmen Legal Fund, in coordination with Freedmen Nation, has officially added Arthur Kwon Lee to its Boycott List following a series of disrespectful and inflammatory actions directed toward the legacy of American Freedmen.

Timeline of Engagement:

January 17, 2025: Arthur Kwon Lee published an offensive post on the social platform X, mocking the historical suffering of Freedmen ancestors with the caption, “Black people really complained about doing this?” The post was paired with a video depicting enslaved individuals picking cotton—an image tied directly to the forced labor and brutal history of chattel slavery in the United States.

January 19, 2025: In response, the American Freedmen Legal Fund issued a formal demand letter to Mr. Lee calling for the immediate removal of the post. The letter was emailed and sent via certified mail. Direct messages were also sent via X to ensure he received the communication.

January 21, 2025: A final follow-up letter was sent after no response or removal of the post. The letter reiterated the harm caused and offered Mr. Lee one last opportunity to resolve the matter amicably.

January 23, 2025: Emails were sent to organizations publicly affiliated with Mr. Lee, including the Bullis School and McLean Project for the Arts. Both institutions confirmed that Mr. Lee had not been affiliated with them for years and stated they had asked him to remove any association with their names.

January 27, 2025: Mr. Lee ignored the removal deadline and instead made a public statement doubling down on his actions. He posted a new image mocking efforts to hold him accountable and implied his collectors supported his inflammatory stance.

February 8, 2025: A certified letter was mailed to Loupe Art, one of the galleries believed to be affiliated with Mr. Lee, demanding his removal from their platform. Mr. Lee continued to taunt the community by pinning a defiant post refusing accountability.

Why This Boycott Matters:

The boycott of Arthur Kwon Lee is not just symbolic—it is a necessary public step to ensure that disrespectful behavior toward American Freedmen ancestors is not tolerated in any space, artistic or otherwise. Mr. Lee’s actions represent a broader cultural problem: the mocking and erasure of the legacy of American chattel slavery and the dignity of its descendants.

Our Message:

The American Freedmen Legal Fund takes its duty to protect the dignity and legacy of Freedmen ancestors seriously. We have exhausted all reasonable avenues to resolve this matter respectfully and privately. The decision to escalate with a boycott came only after repeated refusals from Mr. Lee to take accountability.

Call to Action:

We ask all Freedmen, supporters, institutions, galleries, and organizations that value human dignity to join us in this boycott. Remove platforms for individuals who use their influence to harm our community’s memory and justice claim.

This is about more than a single post. It’s about honoring our ancestors—and ensuring they are never mocked or diminished again.