Earth Day - The World is Yours
As we prepare for Earth Day and celebrate Earth Month in April, I have been thinking a lot lately about land. Land is a powerful asset. Wars have been waged to control it. Genocide committed to steal it. People enslaved to toil on it for the benefit of others. Laws established to keep some people from owning it.
Land is connected to the ability of some to establish a legacy of generational stability based on the work of others. However, for all of the effort taken to own land for personal wealth or corporate growth, not enough care has been given to make sure the land is well cared for.
For many of our elders, the hope of owning land or of recovering stolen lands is something that was passed down across generations. We're all familiar with the post-Civil War promise of 40 acres and a mule for freedmen. According to Reconstruction era policy, formerly enslaved people were to receive 40 acres of land to farm and a mule to help them work it. Of course, we're all familiar with the emptiness of that promise for so many who received less than they were promised or nothing at all. Or the multiple ways that Black people were kept from actually benefiting from whatever they were promised - either through separate-but-equal legislation to redlining to terror groups that would run folks off their property. Land has always been used to create more power and wealth for some, but at a steep cost to others.
After emancipation, many Black families found themselves working as sharecroppers. In this system, families took home only a small portion of the harvest for themselves or their families to use, and were paid next to nothing in wages. My grandma told me stories about how hard she worked to pick cotton each day, and how little she earned or owned to show for her work.
Despite those efforts, many Black Americans are creating a space for themselves in the farming community, building a life for themselves, and feeding their communities through agriculture. Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates there are approximately 40,000 Black farmers in the U.S. owning less than one percent of our nation's farmland. These farmers are leading the charge in not only sustainable agriculture but also preserving the rich culture of Black people in America through food and farming. Farmers like Matthew Raiford in Brunswick, a sixth-generation farmer and chef descended from the Gullah Geechee people in Coastal Georgia (Hear him learn to make mini sweet potato pie from his grandmother here). Or Gabrielle Etienne, co-founder of Tall Grass Food Box, a Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) that supports and encourages Black farmers by increasing their visibility and securing space for them in the local marketplace. Or Pandora Thomas who founded EARTHseed Farm, a farm that is deeply rooted in Octavia Butler’s legacy.
These culture keepers are working to reaffirm and celebrate the connection between Black people and the land advocate for sustainable land management.
Despite these great strides, Black farmers are still fighting an uphill battle to work the lands their families passed down. Policies like eminent domain and redevelopment efforts often result in the loss of family land and, therefore, access to healthy foods for families and communities.
So how can we support Black farmers in their efforts to promote sustainability and health for black communities and families?
Support your local Black farmers. Find out if they operate a CSA and sign up. It’s a great way to get fresh produce and buy local - all good for the environment
Pay attention to legislation. Currently, legislation has been introduced before Congress, including the Justice for Black Farmers Act to “address the history of discrimination against Black farmers and ranchers.” Hold your elected officials accountable for passing laws to protect this important work.
Plant your own garden. You can even purchase seeds from Back farmers like Truelove Seed, Urban Garden Project, or Coco and Seed.