Revolutionizing African American Culture

Penniman, Naima. FORESIGHT. 2018, Soul Fire Farm

Today, white people own 98% of rural land compared to the 1% owned by African Americans. This is no surprise due to the racial inequality intertwined with the practice of agriculture. African-American agricultural history has been marked by immense pain and suffering. The enslavement of African Americans, by Europeans, for the purpose of labor in the fields, has had a deep, lasting impact on African-American identity and culture. African Americans were forced to work long hours, in harsh conditions, for little to no pay. Even after their emancipation, African Americans continued to be denied rights and access to resources that could have allowed them to succeed in agriculture. In many cases, African Americans were denied the right to own land or to receive access to credit, making it nearly impossible to succeed in farming. This lack of resources and access to land has created a legacy of poverty, malnutrition, and disease that is still present in many African-American communities today.

Agriculture and nutrition are closely linked in regard to food systems and the daily lives of Americans. Access to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is associated with nutrition levels and improved health outcomes. Those with access to agricultural crops both in proximity and affordability are at a greater advantage in obtaining a healthy diet. Historically, African Americans have moved further away from farms. Many of them live in urban neighborhoods with no farm in sight. The traumatizing history that is associated with farms, such as plantations and slavery, haunts them when in the presence of those memories. “While the land was not the source of the crime, it was the scene” and that is a lot to carry. These newfound communities lack nutritious foods for their African American residents. White neighborhoods have four times more supermarkets compared to their black counterparts. This puts many Black Americans in a good desert. This in turn has a direct effect on the health of the residents. African Americans have the highest prevalence of heart disease and they are often blamed for it as a result of lifestyle choices or diet. The major cause often forgotten about is the systemically built circumstances driven by racism.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the importance of owning and controlling the means of food production. African American farmers and agricultural workers are reclaiming their power and rights by creating spaces for themselves to engage in their own food production. They are reshaping their oppressive relationship with agriculture through increasing equity and food access by working to end the racism and injustice in the food system through farming. Leah Penniman, the author of Farming While Black, is part of the returning generation of farming. She discusses how the roots of African ancestors are still present in the land but those roots include both pain and admiration. She explores the idea of reinventing that relationship with agriculture through the traditions of African American ancestors. They “believed, against all odds in a future on soil—that their descendants would need to inherit that precious seed.” They were able to ensure that by braiding the seeds within their hair. These same seeds were then planted and spread to what we know as Soul Food today.

https://www.motherjones.com/food/2020/06/black-farmers-soul-fire-farm-reparations-african-leg acy-agriculture/

The painful historical relationship between agriculture and African Americans presents more reasons why healthcare professionals should approach treatment with acknowledgment of the identity and culture of African Americans. The southern cuisine, followed by many African Americans today, is rooted in those seeds brought over by their ancestors. It is the responsibility of dietitians to allow them to preserve their culture while guiding them to dig deeper into the cuisine. A cuisine that will fit in today’s standards of health, one full of fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. It is important to acknowledge the history of the cuisine both positive and negative but to find a solution that includes all aspects of their culture. While many African Americans are ready and able to reclaim their agricultural roots some are not. It is up to them to decide when they are and it is our job to support them where they are in the journey the best way we can without overstepping their boundaries while providing resources and providing relevant suggestions. ___________________________________________________________________________

Black farmers are reclaiming the industry from racism. VICE. https://www.vice.com/en/article/qv35qx/black-farmers-are-reclaiming-the-industry-from-racism-stereotypes-and-a-diffi cult-past. Published November 17, 2017. Accessed February 2, 2023.

Penniman L, Washington K. Farming While Black. S.I.: Chelsea Green Publishing; 2018.

Philpott T. White people own 98 percent of rural land. young black farmers want to reclaim their share. Mother Jones. https://www.motherjones.com/food/2020/06/black-farmers-soul-fire-farm-reparations-african-legacy-agriculture/. Published June 27, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2023.