{"id":7290,"date":"2019-03-15T20:08:53","date_gmt":"2019-03-15T20:08:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hvfarmhub.org\/?p=7290"},"modified":"2021-09-30T23:57:04","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T23:57:04","slug":"farm-hub-celebrates-black-history-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hvfarmhub.org\/es\/farm-hub-celebrates-black-history-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Farm Hub Helps Celebrate Black History Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Hudson Valley Farm Hub participated in Black History Month Kingston<\/a>, a commemoration celebrating the African-American legacy, this year with \u201cLand in Black Hands\u201d an engaging public discussion held February 17th at The Church House in downtown Kingston. The discussion, guided by \u00c7aca Yvaire<\/strong>, representing Northeast Farmers of Colors Land Trust<\/a>, drew a standing room only crowd and featured farmers and community activists Ed Whitfield, Karen Washington and Jalal Sabur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Feb. 17 panel discussion draws a large crowd at The Church in Kingston.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The event, co-sponsored by the Farm Hub, The Kingston Land Trust, Scenic Hudson and live-streamed by Radio Kingston, included discussion about the \u201ccommons\u201d as a resource for the community, reparations, and continued educational development for new and experienced black farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the event\u2019s opening, Farm Hub ProFarmer, Nailah Marie Ellis spoke about why black land matters, citing a quote from Malcolm X, \u201cLand is the basis for freedom, justice, and equality.\u201d She also noted the importance of intergenerational knowledge by \u201ctalking with people who have already done this work to build a more informed future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ed Whitfield<\/strong>, co-managing director of the Fund for Democratic Communities<\/a> in Greensboro, NC, has a background in political activism and economic development. On land ownership Whitfield says, \u201cWe need to realize this earth we live on once belonged to us all by virtue — all of us made it, and it was something we shared together, in terms of land, other forms of infrastructure and systems – And those are products of human labor on the land. Part of our task of re-establishing the commons is so people can co-exist together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karen Washington<\/strong>, a farmer, community activist, and co-owner of Rise and Root Farm<\/a>, a cooperatively run farm in the black dirt region of Orange County, NY, says acknowledging and preserving history is equally important as addressing the question of how to increase land ownership. Washington said it is critical to \u201ccapture those stories\u201d by digital tools, and when she has the chance she likes to remind young people about the profound wisdom that is carried by family members who have been in agriculture, and that they should learn more about their histories \u201cbecause that is your legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The engaging panel discussion was followed by questions from the audience.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jalal Sabur<\/strong> is a farmer, organizer, prison abolitionist, and also co-founder of the Freedom Food Alliance and WILDSEED Community Farm & Healing Village<\/a> in Millerton, NY. Sabur\u2019s focus has been on supporting families of the incarcerated with transportation to prisons and increasing their access to farm fresh foods. Sabur said creating positive change is more than \u201cjust about capital, it\u2019s about having a place where we can use those hard skills and be self-determined. It\u2019s not just a check that will go outside of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cLand in Black Hands\u201d event featured a number of local black-owned businesses; the cupcakes served during the panel were made by Sharon\u2019s Cakes, and local Jamaican restaurant, Top Taste<\/a> catered a post-event dinner at The Lace Mill for organizers and panelists. \u201cLand in Black Hands\u201d was one of many events forming Black History Month Kingston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The month-long celebration included 35 events this year, with highlights including a community dinner attended by over 250 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would say just to be able to open up that conversation of land in black hands is so important, because land is one of the most important things you can own in this country. It is a critical conversation that needs to be had all year around,\u201d says Frank Waters, a lead organizer of Black History Month Kingston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Amy Wu <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured image above: Left, moderator \u00c7aca Yvaire listens as panelist Karen Washington of Rise and Root Farm shares her views on farming and land ownership.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n