Routledge Black Farmers in America: Fighting for an Equitable Food System (Earthscan Food and Agriculture)

This book presents a captivating exploration of the often-overlooked experiences, challenges, and enduring triumphs of black farmers in America. This book examines the historical roots, present-day realities, and future possibilities of Black farming in the United States through the lens of equity, land, and local food systems. Tracing Black agriculture from slavery and Reconstruction to contemporary struggles and innovations, it reveals how discriminatory policies, land dispossession, and structural racism have shaped persistent disparities in farming, food access, and economic opportunity. Centering the local food system as a site of both challenge and possibility, the book explores how community-supported agriculture, cooperative ownership models, urban farming, and land-based reparative efforts are creating pathways toward empowerment and food sovereignty. Through in-depth case studies in the Appalachian region, the Mississippi Delta, the U.S. South, Detroit, and Washington, D.C., the book highlights the resilience, creativity, and leadership of Black farmers navigating systemic barriers while building sustainable, community-rooted solutions. Combining historical analysis, policy review, qualitative narratives, and quantitative data, the book offers readers a comprehensive understanding of how race, land, and food systems intersect, providing both critical insight and practical strategies for advancing equity in agriculture. Ultimately, the book calls readers to action, offering a roadmap for collaboration, advocacy, and investment in a more just and resilient food system that centers Black farmers and growers. Black Farmers in America is an essential read for anyone seeking to actively participate in transforming our food systems into an equitable and inclusive space for all.