From the beginning of Civil Eats back in 2009, we’ve paid particular attention to the experience of Black farmers as they’ve sought to right historical wrongs and reclaim connection to the land. Over the past six years, our stories have covered an especially turbulent time for farmers of color, spanning the upheavals of the 2020 pandemic, the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Biden administration’s efforts to support equity, and the dismantling of DEI initiatives during the second term of President Donald Trump.
The stories below trace some of the key policy decisions of our recent past and the impact of those decisions on Black farmers. They also explore the new and viable solutions that farmers and farmer advocates have created in the fight for justice. Below are our most important stories about Black farmers from the past six years, in chronological order.
Black Farmers Are Embracing Climate-Resilient Farming
Communities of color are on the frontlines of climate change. These farmers are also on the frontlines of climate solutions.
Reckoning with Racial Justice in Farm Country
Rural communities and agriculture groups are divided over George Floyd’s death and the resulting protests. As some stay silent, others express solidarity or hold rallies in support.
Black Land Matters. But Is Crowdfunding Enough?
As calls for reparations continue, multiple efforts are afoot to begin to help Black farmers gain access to land and rebuild stolen wealth and labor.
Queer, BIPOC Farmers are Working for a More Inclusive and Just Farming Culture
Young, queer farmers of color say they encounter high rates of racism, sexism, and other forms of identity-based oppression in farm country. Here’s how they’re working to change that.
Keisha Cameron checks on her sheep at High Hog Farm in Grayson, Georgia. (Photo credit: Lynsey Weatherspoon)
Does Regenerative Agriculture Have a Race Problem?
BIPOC farmers see the movement as an attempt to rebrand age-old growing traditions and Indigenous practices—without inviting people of color to the table.
Black Farmers Still Await Debt Relief as Lawmakers Resolve Racist Lawsuits
After the 2020 election, the Biden administration promised to rectify years of discrimination and systemic racism. That hasn’t happened.
The Field Report: Can Lawsuits Right Historic Wrongs for Black Farmers?
A two-year research project attempts to understand how that litigation has actually impacted the farmers and their families.
How the Long Shadow of Racism at USDA Impacts Black Farmers in Arkansas—and Beyond
Cotton Belt farmers have been waiting on long-overdue debt relief to right historic wrongs. But some see court battles, legislation, and red tape as a continued sign of systemic discrimination.
Ujamaa Farm Collective was founded by Nelson Hawkins (left), Keith Hudson (center), and Nathaniel Brown (right). (Photo credit: Jason Elias Photography)
California Will Help BIPOC Collective Cultivate Land Access for Underserved Farmers
With a recent grant from the state of California, Ujamaa Farmer Collective hopes to provide farmers of color with land to start or grow farming businesses.
Oral History Project Preserves Black and Indigenous Food Traditions
The Heirloom Gardens Project records the stories of elders and honors both long-held expertise and culturally meaningful foods.
A Black-Led Agricultural Community Takes Shape in Maryland
An urban farm trailblazer begins building a Black agrarian corridor in rural Maryland, fostering community and climate resilience. Land access was the first step.
Southern Black Farmers Sow Rice and Reconciliation
Jubilee Justice grows rice regeneratively while reclaiming the past.
Op-ed: Black Producers Have Farmed Sustainably in Kansas for Generations. Let’s Not Erase Our Progress.
Increased federal funding for Black farmers—not less—will help US agriculture become more resilient as our climate changes.
Brea Baker on the Legacy of Stolen Farmland in America
The author of ‘Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership’ talks about her family’s farming history, the lasting impact of land loss for Black people, and the case for reparations.
Despite Cuts to DEI Initiatives, Food and Farm Advocates Say They Will Continue to Fight for Racial Justice
People fighting for a fairer food system are worried and exhausted, but remain undeterred.
National Black Growers Council Board member Willis Nelson, of Nelson and Sons Farm, stands in a field of row crops. (Photo credit: National Black Growers Council)
A New Path for Small Farmers in the Southeast?
The Southern Farmers Financial Association, years in the making, could be a lifeline for Black farmers and rural communities, but is in jeopardy now.
The EPA Canceled These 21 Climate Justice Projects
From solar-powered greenhouses to wild rice initiatives, the Trump administration cut funding for nearly two dozen farm and food resilience projects.
At 91, Eva Clayton Is Still Fighting for Food Justice and Farmers’ Rights
North Carolina’s first Black congresswoman keeps making her voice heard—on gerrymandering, hunger relief, and more.
The post Honoring Black Farmers: Our Biggest Stories From the Past 6 Years appeared first on Civil Eats.
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