There is another way

What stuck with me the most from this chapter is the adoption of co-op and mutual aid organization in the Southern black communities during the Reconstruction era. Developed in a time of necessity when opportunities were not equally distributed to black Americans, groups such as the Colored Farmers Alliance, Freedom Farms, and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives allowed freed slaves and their descendants opportunities that would not have been there for them otherwise. While the lifespan of some of these co-ops was short lived, the impression they left is lasting. We talk a lot in this class about how many of society's problems can be traced back to money. Cooperatives are a step in the right direction, leading away from hierarchical economic statuses, and towards a more circular economy. We do not have to live within the bounds of our current system, there are other options that just need to garner enough support. The individuals and families who founded these co-ops did not have an easy life, but by banding together they were able to accomplish something in a system that worked against them. The same can be done now in an age with extreme wealth disparity that continues to grow, perpetuated racism, sexism and classism, and corrupt political parties. 

Additionally, the work Olivia Watson is doing at Oliver's Agroforest exemplifies working out of the bounds of the current system. Our common agricultural practices are gravely detrimental to the health of the planet. Simply knowing how to grow your own food, feed your community, and do it in a way that is beneficial to the planet is a great act of resistance against oppressors. Having a farm that functions in accordance with nature and the ecosystem is a dream of mine, and it's uplifting to know that it is possible and there are others working towards the same goal.