Structural Racism and Land Access in US Farm System

Description

This week’s topic, Industrialization, addresses broad changes in the structure of Western European and U.S. agriculture. The benefits of the last centuries of agricultural change in the U.S., however, have accrued largely to white farmers.

Answer the following questions:

1. In a well-written paragraph, explain how U.S. institutions (e.g., the Homestead Act, USDA farm programs) have affected African American access to the livelihood assets they need to participate successfully in agriculture? Illustrate your answers with specific examples from the articles.
2. Drawing from the Collier article on reparations, and the other hyperlinks in the Horst article, what types of interventions do you think can be made to address the cumulative injustices that Black American communities, Native Americans, women farmers and other populations have experienced as a result of structural racism in the U.S. farm system?

Sources provided: (USE THESE 3 SOURCES)
Horst, Megan. Jan 25, 2019. “How Racism has Shaped the American Farming Landscape
(Links to an external site.)
.” Eater.
Merritt, Keri Leigh. “Land and the Roots of African American Poverty.
(Links to an external site.)
” Aeon.
Collier, Andrea King. Jun 4, 2018. “A reparations map for farmers of color may right historical wrongs.
(Links to an external site.)
” Civil Eats.