Black Land Matters

 This chapter was incredibly sobering and enlightening to the struggles of black americans in agriculture. The fact that 98% of black farmers would be dispossessed between 1915-1985. America's policies systematically displaced black farmers and made it more difficult for african americans to own land. This was a topic that I was somewhat familiar with from previous readings in/outside of this class, but one of the most interesting and shocking things to read was the targeting of black owned farms that were "heir properties" (properties without a written will) by exploitative developers. This accounted for 50% of black land loss since 1969--a staggering number. It was inspiring however to learn about how Watkin's dedicated herself to taking care of her family's land in ecologically sustainable ways. 

I especially loved the part about fungi. People who were with me in the fundamentals of regenerative agriculture last semester know that I have a really big soft spot for fungi and their applications to regenerative agriculture. The mycelium, in my opinion, is a physical representation of the interconnectedness of all living things. It is what binds the entire forest together, and it does so almost completely hidden underground. It is the unsung hero of healthy soil. When a tree is cut down in a forest, it doesn't die. In fact, the surrounding trees send a constant stream of essential nutrients and carbohydrates through the mycelium, keeping the stump alive for hundreds of years. Trees don't just do this for their own species, however. Why? In the words of Neil DeGrasse Tyson, "is it because they know that their lives depend on the health of the whole forest, and even on beings very different from themselves? Is it possible that the trees can think in longer terms than we do?" 

These systemic practices and policies are still affecting and disenfranchising black citizens of America today. If we cannot even see past race within our own species, how will we ever reach the necessary level of consciousness that believes in the importance and value of all living things? In this regard, I do believe nature is more intelligent than us.