Food Chain Radio Show #1150

Michael Olson, Author & Urban Farming Agriculturalist

African-American Farmers

Escaping the Trap of History

Guests: Gail Myers PhD, Founder Farms to Grow / Will Scott, Scott Family Farms / Sophia Wilmore, Ag Student, UCSC

We look into the future, and to our past, to see if we can find a way to escape the trap of history and realize the hope in our future.

Dr. Gail Myers – Doctorate in Anthropology Ohio State University She organized the first statewide conference for African-American farmers in Ohio – Sustaining Communities: Ohio’s Black Farmers at the Crossroads. Dr. Myers organized the 19th California Small Farm Conference in Ventura; founded Farms to Grow, Inc.; and in partnership with farmers, business owners, and community vendors founded the Freedom Farmers Market to West Oakland. Listen: Michael Olson Food Chain Radio – Saturdays 9-10AM.

The history we look into is that of the nation’s population of African-American farmers, and how they once held a prominent position producing the nation’s food.

We then ask: What happened to those African-American farmers? Most all of them have disappeared. Where did they go?

Will Scott Jr.’s efforts have been assisted by U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama’s interest in farming. Seeing the first lady on her hands and knees, working in her garden, changes the concept of farming that many black people have. Black farming had carried negative connotations for many African-Americans due to the legacies of slavery, sharecropping and past discriminatory government. Listen: Michael Olson Food Chain Radio – Saturdays 9-10AM.

And we wonder about the future. What do our young African-Americans see when they look into that future? Do they see hope of earning a living by growing the nation’s food? Or do they feel trapped by the history of African-American farmers?

Sophia Wilmore – Student Intern Producer Food Chain Radio – University of California Santa Cruz Senior – Environmental Studies with Emphasis in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. Listen: Michael Olson Food Chain Radio – Saturdays 9-10AM.

Leave a comment below: Can we escape the trap of history?

Tune in here, for the syndicated the Michael Olson Food Chain Radio Show #1150 June 9, 2018 Saturday 9AM Pacific

Listen to a podcast recording of this Food Chain Radio Show

Nationally syndicated Food Chain Radio airs Saturday mornings 9-10AM Pacific.