Reading the Chapter Black Land Matters, I loved learning more about the history of agroforestry. I have always thought monoculture was strange in any regard, as most organisms need other organisms of different biology to thrive. Additionally, the stewardship of mycelium by Watkins is admirable. The mycelium network is integral to forest biodiversity, and it was fascinating to learn that she started with mushroom logging. Her approach to stewardship seems to be successful and has given me many ideas for my future projects.
We have, for many decades, forced Americans of African descent in the U.S. into consistent oppression. The ideology of settler colonization STILL can be traced in society to this very day. Even without slavery, the governing forces did their very best to keep black communities destitute. However, there were many significant leaders along the way, such as George Washington Carver and Fannie Lou Hamer, that dedicated their lives to rerouting the history of their ancestor’s ties to the land.
After the stealing, stifling, and infringing of the black farming community by white officials and their racist alliances, it’s a miracle that, in 2025, there are black farmers who own the land they farm. As an Environmental Science student, I think it’s essential to know your connection as a human to the land that provides for you. This (the U.S.) isn’t a white person’s land; this is native land that was utilized with respect for thousands of years before European settlers came in with their big ideas. How can we expect a land that we have disrespected for decades to provide for us? Studying the historical practices of natives on the land they are native to is the only way to fully comprehend the biodiversity of all living organisms in that region.
Even with the studies of Carver, we learned so much about the vital building blocks of agriculture. His forward push towards black independence, using self-sufficiency, established footholds in progress toward civil rights policies. This clearly had a successful impact because, at every turn, the white majority scrambled to undermine their advances. Human resilience helped the black farmers take back their farming freedoms even from the moment they were forced from their homelands. By braiding seeds in their hair upon capture, they were able to bring their source of sustenance to the north. Dooryard gardens carried practices through slavery into emancipation and 100 years of racist policy to the young black farmers of today. Although it is a tragic story that should not have to be told, it is a vital part of black farming heritage that deserves respect.
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I also really enjoyed learning about the history of different agricultural systems. It was particularly interesting to learn that agroforestry has deep African roots, particularly in west Africa. West Africa is also where many Africans were enslaved and taken to the Americas - it makes sense that some of our agricultural practices have ties to this area. It is really frustrating to think about all the injustices black people faced (and still face today). It is interesting to think about how our agricultural system would be different today if black people were able to have a more active and sustainable role in agriculture.
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