Equitable Development Webinar Series

It’s The Long Game, But We Can Make Change Happen Faster.  - Kat Taylor

Much of white America is only now waking up to acknowledge the prolonged, intentional, and systematic attacks on Black and brown communities. And, sadly, many white Americans still choose not to acknowledge these attacks, or the exasperating struggles that racist-by-design systems have created for so many of our fellow human beings. Despite the false realities and the deniers of truths, we will continue to tell stories and provide a safe space to discuss our experiences and share our truths, lifting up proud voices in a time of rebellion against ingrained injustice. In the next Equitable Development Working Group webinar, we and our esteemed guests will talk about something a little different, but profoundly important to finding justice, the future of Agriculture in America. We will dig deep into the soils of  where our food is grown, who is growing it, how it’s being grown, and how we can engage together to shift this monolithic industry - which largely perpetuates systems of inequity - toward becoming a foundation for improving the health, wellness,  and equitable development of all communities. 

After slavery was abolished in the U.S., Black leaders envisioned autonomous, self-governed Black agricultural communities all across the United States - based on the promise of 40 acres for each freedman, but that dream was short lived. After the revocation of this promise by President Andrew Johnson, racist systems have continually worked to undermine the Black farmer in America. Against these odds, Black farmers in the United States staked out their claim and made success happen for themselves, and by 1920  had reached the apex of Black farming in America, where Black farmers operated 925,000 farms, about one-seventh of all farm operations in the U.S. 

Over the past 100 years, Black agriculturalists have been dispossessed of over 13 million acres of land, and make up only about 1.34% of farmer producers. Even worse, Black Americans (who constitute almost 14% of the country’s population) own just 1% of rural land nationwide. Native Americans have suffered a similar fate through violence over hundreds of years. 

It’s The Long Game, But We Can Make Change Happen Faster. 

Agriculture can be a driver of comprehensive equitable development, and must be again. In large part, the current agricultural stewards and food producers have proven to be horrendous extractors of our natural resources and contributors to climate change, the degradation of our soils, the proliferation of extremely harmful chemicals, and engagement in abhorrent labor practices. What is clear is that America needs a new generation of land stewards. What is also clear that an army of obstacles stand in the way of Black and Indigenous leaders becoming these champions - obstacles like the cost of land to financial discrimination. But a resurgence is beginning. We must support the essential cause of putting land back into the hands of Black and Indigenous families and individuals, and ensuring what happens on that land creates constructive benefits for all people instead of furthering destruction and suffering. 

We want to uplift a narrative, and show proof of concept, for an agricultural system that is strong, local, diverse, resilient, and that centers our shared humanity. We must scale food systems that are taking care of all people, and taking care of the finite and precious lands on our one planet. If society can put land back into the hands of the next generation of Black Brown, and Indigenous farmers, we just might have a chance. Healthy food needs to be grown prolifically, and made available to everyone, especially to those in the places where it has been denied for so long. Fortunately, progress is already underway. There are many groups already working to shift the supply chain toward BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) farmers and organizations. We come together to hear about their journeys for the benefit of all who see this shift as critical to our collective future. 

What symbolic justice would it be to make this vision a reality, and to laugh in the face of the atrocities committed against Black Americans  brought here in chains to build up the now-destructive agrarian economy of our deeply flawed nation? What justice would it be for indigenous people of the Americas to once again find harmony and prosperity on their beautiful lands. 

We intend to engage in a conversation, bringing together community stewards, land stewards, and capital stewards to discuss how we can best engage assets in a way that shifts land and control of that land to more Black, Brown, and Indigenous farmers. I’d like to invite all communities, investors, and interested parties to learn from, and take part in this conversation.

WEBINAR I: Harold The ReGenesis Model for Equitable Development

Webinar #2

Webinar #3

Webinar #4