John,
Discussing the issues we face now can lead to a solution for generations to come.
Our relationship with food in this country spans long before Black people were legally granted rights. Since enslavement, Black folks have had limited – if any – access to healthy foods. From food being served in troughs – if any was provided at all – to people being forced to drink in excess during holiday “celebrations,” we cannot ignore the connection between food and the tools of oppression of white supremacy.
Fast forward to today: We can look at the prison industrial complex and how one of the first forms of mistreatment is presented in the non-nutritious meals. And it goes deeper than that, with unfair labor practices for those who work in food and agriculture at the individual level all the way up to global mass assembly. Just last year, the National Black Farmers Association sued the government for refusing to process loans due to racial prejudice. All of that is tied to the dehumanization of ourselves, of people, and our communities.
Dedicating efforts to the future of food has never been more critical. We're showing what an abolitionist approach to food systems can look and sound like.
Some communities have already begun
liberating the food system by creating co-ops and community gardens.
Co-ops are stores that are owned and run by the community they are in. Like community gardens, co-ops often source food, vegetables, and some starches from local sources. Co-ops and community gardens often use labor from the community to sustain themselves.
Younger generations of
Black farmers are working against these barriers and creating resources for other Black people interested in producing crops to do the same.
A direct result of that is access to nutrient-rich and high-quality foods.
It's on us to not just educate on this issue, but take action and swift approaches that involve challenging the system of white supremacy head-on.
John, help fuel BLMGNF's efforts toward advancing the future of food for Black communities and our futures.
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
