Member-only story
Taking back the land and our health.
Close your eyes and think of a farmer, what do you see? Let me guess, you see an older, white man, in overalls? If you do, it’s not surprising considering 95% of American farmers are white men in their 60’s. That has not always been the case. In 1920, There were nearly a million black farmers; per capita there were more black farmers than white.
Since the early 1900’s, nearly 90 percent of Black owned farmland has been lost.
In 1920 it was a necessity, we had to know how to feed ourselves. In 2020, we realized the same is true now. Self-sufficiency is an act of resistance. It’s an act of protection and preservation.
Where Did the Land Go?
The simplified version.
Since its founding, the USDA has been accused of unfair loan denials and delays based upon race. Farmers who relied on their loans and grants often lost land unnecessarily. The largest civil rights settlement in US history, 1.25 billion dollars was against the USDA for discriminatory practices.
During the Great Migration, millions of Black Americans moved north, seeking refuge in urban cities. Escaping terrorism and moving towards jobs opportunities also frequently meant moving into urban cities with little space…
