Freedom Farmers

1. Black Agriculture: A Legacy of Resistance and Resilience

Historians, novelists, filmmakers, and persons engaged in casual conversation often tell the story of the relationship between landless African American farmers and the soil as one of oppression and exploitation.

Beyond Oppression. The narrative of African Americans and agriculture is often dominated by stories of slavery, tenant farming, and sharecropping, highlighting exploitation and hardship. However, this book seeks to uncover a parallel narrative of resistance, agency, and community resilience, demonstrating how black farmers have actively shaped their relationship with the land.

Historical Roots. This alternative narrative traces back to the earliest days of slavery, where enslaved Africans brought agricultural knowledge and crops from their homelands, using them to sustain themselves and, in turn, contribute to the agricultural development of the Americas. Slave gardens, for example, served as independent production grounds, offering a space for autonomy and cultural preservation.

Contemporary Relevance. By reclaiming this legacy, the book aims to provide a historical foundation for contemporary food justice and sovereignty movements, particularly in urban areas like Detroit, where agriculture is being used to rebuild communities and create sustainable food systems. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context of black agricultural practices to inform and empower current efforts.

2. Booker T. Washington's Institutional Approach to Black Advancement

It is my conviction that the Negro population must live in the future as they have done in the past, by the cultivation of the soil, and the most helpful service now to be done is to enable the race to follow agriculture with intelligence and diligence.

Tuskegee Institute. Booker T. Washington, despite his controversial stance on race relations, played a pivotal role in promoting agricultural education and self-sufficiency among African Americans. His founding of the Tuskegee Institute in 1881 provided vocational training and resources to black farmers, emphasizing the importance of industrial education as a means to economic independence.

Community Outreach. Washington's commitment extended beyond the campus through initiatives like the Negro Farmers Conference and the Movable School, which brought agricultural knowledge and techniques directly to black farmers in the rural South. These programs aimed to improve farming practices, promote landownership, and enhance the overall quality of life for black communities.

Practical Education. Washington's approach focused on practical skills and knowledge that could be immediately applied to improve the lives of black farmers. By building institutions and providing access to education and resources, he sought to empower African Americans to achieve economic self-reliance and participate more fully in society.

3. George Washington Carver's Scientific Agriculture for Self-Sufficiency

The primary idea in all of my work was to help the farmer and fill the poor man’s empty dinner pail.

Applied Science. George Washington Carver, a renowned agricultural scientist, dedicated his career to improving the lives of black farmers through scientific research and practical application. As director of the Tuskegee Agricultural Experiment Station, he focused on developing sustainable farming practices, crop diversification, and innovative uses for agricultural products.

Soil Restoration. Carver's work emphasized the importance of soil conservation and restoration, advocating for crop rotation, composting, and the use of legumes to improve soil fertility. He sought to empower farmers to overcome the challenges of depleted soils and limited resources, enabling them to achieve greater self-sufficiency.

Accessible Knowledge. Carver was committed to disseminating his research findings in an accessible manner, publishing bulletins and conducting demonstrations to share his knowledge with black farmers. His work not only advanced agricultural science but also provided practical solutions for improving the economic and environmental conditions of rural black communities.

4. W.E.B. Du Bois and the Power of Cooperative Economics

There exists today a chance for the Negroes to or ga nize a cooperative state within their own group.

Cooperative Vision. W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent sociologist and civil rights activist, recognized the potential of cooperative economics to empower African American communities. He advocated for the development of cooperatives as a means to achieve economic self-determination and resist the exploitative conditions of segregation.

Economic Cooperation. Du Bois emphasized the importance of black farmers, artisans, and technicians working together to create a self-sufficient economy within their own communities. He believed that by pooling resources and skills, African Americans could overcome the barriers of discrimination and achieve economic independence.

Negro Cooperative Guild. Du Bois translated his ideas into action by establishing the Negro Cooperative Guild in 1918, an organization dedicated to promoting cooperative businesses and providing training and skills to African Americans. His work laid the groundwork for a vision of economic empowerment and collective action that continues to inspire today.

5. Fannie Lou Hamer's Freedom Farm Cooperative: A Model for Community Empowerment

Down where we are, food is used as a po liti cal weapon. But if you have a pig in your backyard, if you have some vegetables in your garden, you can feed yourself and your family, and nobody can push you around.

Responding to Poverty. Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil rights activist, founded the Freedom Farm Cooperative (FFC) in 1967 as an antipoverty strategy to address the needs of impoverished residents in Sunflower County, Mississippi. FFC aimed to provide housing, employment, education, and access to healthy food, empowering black communities to resist economic and po liti cal oppression.

Holistic Approach. FFC's approach was holistic, addressing not only material needs but also fostering a sense of community, self-reliance, and po liti cal consciousness. The cooperative provided a space for black farmers to practice freedom, engage in demo cratic decision-making, and build a sustainable community based on cooperative living.

Legacy of Empowerment. While FFC faced challenges and ultimately dissolved, its legacy as a model for community empowerment and self-determination continues to inspire. Hamer's vision of a community-based, agricultural approach to addressing poverty and injustice remains relevant for contemporary food justice movements.

6. North Bolivar County Farm Cooperative: Collective Action in the Mississippi Delta

If a man is able to feed himself, he votes the way he wants to.

Community Response. The North Bolivar County Farm Cooperative (NBCFC) emerged in 1967 as a community response to the economic devastation and food insecurity plaguing the Mississippi Delta. Composed primarily of black tenant farmers, sharecroppers, and day laborers, NBCFC sought to create a self-sufficient agricultural system that would provide food and employment for its members.

Cooperative Stores. NBCFC established cooperative stores in various sections of the county, providing access to affordable food and supplies. The cooperative also engaged in crop production, distributing over one million pounds of produce to its members in its first year.

Empowerment through Self-Sufficiency. By pooling resources and working together, NBCFC members aimed to bypass exploitative middlemen and gain greater control over their economic destinies. The cooperative's efforts to provide food, employment, and a sense of community demonstrated the power of collective action in the face of systemic oppression.

7. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives: Scaling Up Agricultural Self-Determination

The cooperative movement found its birth in necessity; the necessity of poor black people to combine their resources, talent, [and] labor to make an economic unit able to survive in an eco nom ically hostile environment.

Regional Network. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives (FSC) was founded in 1967 as an umbrella organization to support and connect black agricultural cooperatives across the South. FSC provided technical assistance, training, and resources to its member cooperatives, enabling them to scale up their operations and address systemic challenges.

Comprehensive Support. FSC's programs encompassed a wide range of areas, including farm management, marketing, purchasing, and access to credit. The organization also addressed issues of housing, health care, and education, recognizing the interconnectedness of economic, social, and po liti cal empowerment.

Advocacy and Resistance. FSC served as an advocate for black farmers and rural communities, lobbying for policies that would support their interests and challenging discriminatory practices. Despite facing resistance from white power structures, FSC played a crucial role in promoting agricultural self-determination and economic justice in the South.

8. Detroit Black Community Food Security Network: Urban Agriculture as a Path to Liberation

For more than four centuries, African Americans provided most of the labor for the production of cotton and tobacco— two of the cash crops that generated sizable wealth in the colonies and the nation.

Responding to Urban Crisis. The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN) emerged in the context of Detroit's economic decline and food insecurity, seeking to create a self-reliant food system for the city's black community. DBCFSN's work is rooted in a pan-African philosophy of pride and solidarity that is also antiracist, anticapitalist, and self-determined.

D-Town Farm. DBCFSN's flagship project, D-Town Farm, serves as a community center, educational resource, and source of fresh produce for Detroit residents. The farm's activities promote sustainable agriculture, healthy eating, and community empowerment, providing a tangible example of collective action and self-reliance.

Building a Food Sovereign Future. DBCFSN's efforts extend beyond food production to encompass food policy advocacy, cooperative economics, and community education. By building a community-based food system, DBCFSN seeks to create a more just and equitable future for black Detroiters, drawing on the legacy of resistance and resilience that has characterized black agricultural practices for centuries.

Last updated: February 28, 2025