12th National Black Land Loss Summit

The Summit title was gripping enough, "Still Fighting, Still Farming, and Still Eating," but the list of previous Summits and where this one fell was also of much interest.  From 1997 to 2011, other Summits have been Black Land Loss: And Then There Was None; Justice for Black Farmers; Steps to Healing the Land; Ten Years After Pigford--Moving Forward; A Vision for the Future; and Save the Land--Benefit & Rally, just to name a few. 

The Summit has a rich background against the legacy of land loss and discriminatory practices of the USDA. The Concerned Citizens of Tillery and the Land Loss Fund are also rich in history. See this link for a summary of these historical times and places.

Multiple goals were set for this year's Summit including reversing African American land loss, increasing the number of Black farm families in operation, and developing an inventory of what farm families produce around the country.

Dinner at the Tillery Community Center, a walk through the Tillery History House, and viewing and discussing the documentary "We Shall Not Be Moved: The  History of the Resettlement Farm" got the Summit off to a good start.On Saturday morning, a panel of Gary Grant, BFAA president; Rose Sanders, legal counsel for Black farmers under Pigford; and Dr. Ridgley Mu'min, Minister of Agriculture and director of the Nation of Islam's farm participated.  The two-hour session was a review and history of the Pigford Class Action Suit and what it achieved and what is has left unaddressed.  This was a fascinating time as three passionate leaders presented similar and different view points on Pigford.

Stephen Bowens, Attorney at Law with Bowens Law, PLLC, presented the history and complications of Wise v. Veneman (2000) and most recent developments for the families and their cases following the decision by the courts to not certify a number of families as a class. In short, the courts are often not a place to seek justice in this day and age.

After lunch, I presented "Living, Dying, and Thriving: Family Life and the USDA."  After several years of interviews, hours of discussing matters with farmers and family members, the verdict is clear:  farming is hard work, farming for Black farmers is even more difficult, and when the USDA gets involved (as in the case for Pigford claimants and           others), many signs and symptoms of the impact of discrimination are seen in the life, health, and family of the farmer and family.

Dr. Spencer Wood, sociology faculty, Kansas State University, presented a complex set of data and interpretations related to Black land loss in "Land Loss, Confusing Statistics, & Economics of Land Ownership."  He is the premier expert on this topic.  In short, it is not a pretty picture.

Doroathy Barker facilitated a group of panelists from the USDA on "USDA Rural Development and Forestry Divisions--Operation Spring Plant," in which options for the use of land were presented. If matters can be trusted, there are multiple options available for minority farmers to work the land successfully.

Crystal Matthews, attorney with the Land Loss Prevention Project, Durham, NC described the "Land Loss Prevention Project's Smart Growth Business Center." Interesting material.  See this link for more.

Scott Muhammad, Co-Director with his wife, Erica Henry, of Students for Education and Economic Development (SEED, Inc.), Eutaw, Alabama, presented a challenging and captivating presentation on how to get city cousins onto the land.  More specifically, his 16-week apprenticeship program looks like a doable venture. 

Planning for the future brought together Gary Grant, BFAA president; Eddie Wise, farmer and entrepreneur from North Carolina; and Willie Wright, research associate from UNC to the table to discuss "Where Do We Go from Here? Planning for the Future."  The struggle for justice in the USDA and its policies, diversity in farming, and the future of Black land ownership were discussed.

Again, there is much to be done.

Black Land Loss Summit: Personal Thoughts

Tillery is both a place in space and time and a personal space and place for my wife and me. We first met Gary Grant, members of the Black Farmers & Agriculturalists Association, the Concerned Citizens of Tillery, and the Open Minded Seniors in June, 2005. Seems like we've been friends for much longer. The actual number of times we've traveled to this rural, farming community escapes me at the moment. There are the other occasions in which we have met up with these good people and other advocates for justice.

This event required preparation in a number of ways. Knowing that I was to speak and knowing the gravity of the Summit required time and energy well in advance. I am never quite prepared for events, conversations, and presentations. They have taken on a life of their own with us.

"Still Fighting, Still Farming, Still Eating" reads like a riveting title. 12th National Black Land Loss Summit is likewise riveting.

The Biblical passage printed on the conference brochure reads like something from church, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Sound familiar? Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter six, verse 12.

We fly into RDU, travel by rental car to Roanoke Rapids, marvel at the beauty along the way, check in to the motel, rest a bit, and then meet up with Gary and Spencer. It's on. A challenging evening of conversation, issues, and challenges and opportunities is just the beginning.

The next day, we head out to the Community Center after doing a few errands in town. First task of the day? Sweep the floor. We are family. We sweep the floor. After a light lunch, we set up the display table, a chronology of previous summits and gatherings in the form of t-shirts and booklets. Participants begin to arrive. The crowd swells. Dinner, "We Shall Not Be Moved," and more engaging conversations. On the way back to Roanoke Rapids from Tillery, we sing songs and tell of their origins with a person who has flown in from Alabama to join us.

Saturday morning, we shift to Halifax Community College. Displays set up, technology in place, the people begin to arrive. A stimulating day of debate, information, food, conversation both public and private, new friends who have traveled hours and hours to get there, and plans for the future. The "A Man Called Matthew Award" will remain memorable as long as I have memory.

Photos taken, goodbye exchanges made, more dinner conversation, more goodbyes, and a final trip back to Tillery. That is a skeleton outline of the weekend. More in the next post on this page.

How to capture it? People, racism, farming, farming against all conceivable odds, different perspectives of the world, a collision of ideas and ideologies, friends forever in a common cause for justice.

There is much to be done.

12th National Black Land Loss Summit

12th National Black Land Loss Summit

Still Fighting, Still Farming and Still Eating

April 8-9, 2011

Historic Site of the Tillery Resettlement Community

and

Halifax Community College, Weldon, NC

Friday and Saturday, April 8 and 9, promise to be interesting and challenging days.

The 12th National Black Land Loss Summit will be held in the beautiful farming community of Tillery, North Carolina, site of the Tillery Resettlement Community and on the campus of Halifax Community College, Weldon, NC. Check out the BFAA web page for complete details. Check out the Halifax web page for the greater Halifax area points of interest.

Special rates are offered at the Holiday Inn Express, Roanoke Rapids, for attendees.

The event begins at 4:00 pm on Friday and runs until 9:00 or so Friday night. There will be good food and good conversation around the documentary, We Shall Not Be Moved. You will be moved at the presentation and discussion of this important piece of history.

On Saturday, beginning at 9:00 am on the campus of Halifax Community College, and ending around 5:30 pm will be a riveting schedule of speakers and topics.

The speakers are farmers, advocates, attorneys, and researchers. They are affiliated with the USDA, the Land Loss Prevention Project, or the Nation of Islam. Are care deeply about land loss among African American farmers. All care deeply about families.

The topics range from the real truth of Pigford I and II, the Wise Class Action Suit denial, the impact of discrimination on the health and well being of farmers, rural development options for farmers and families, the Land Loss Prevention Project's ideas relative to business, and getting youth back into farmer. There will be much, much more.

These events are always stirring and memorable. My wife and I have been to several. We hope to attend more.

Here are some reflections on the last Summit. You'll see some photographs as well.