少女福利

Planting New Seeds: the Journey of the Black Farmer from Sharecropping to Black Farmer Prosperity with Dale Bell, Associate Programs Director, Comprehensive Community Development, Edmundite Missions

This presentation traces the transformation of Black farmers from the era of sharecropping – where many worked land they did not own under exploitative conditions – to the modern pursuit of land ownership, agricultural independence, and economic stability. Grounded in the teachings of Dr. King and the work of the Edmundite Missions, it examines the challenges Black farmers have historically faced, including limited access to resources, discriminatory lending practices, and generational barriers to ownership. Despite these obstacles, the narrative emphasizes the resilience, skill, and determination of Black agricultural communities as they reclaim their agricultural legacy. New initiatives, including impact grants, heirs property workshops, entrepreneurship training and community programs, are helping to support and empower Black farmers by expanding access to equipment, education, capital, and land. Through these efforts, Black farmers are planting new seeds of opportunity – transforming historical hardship into modern prosperity and building a stronger, more equitable future in agriculture.