The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ land Assistance Fund

Summary

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives, established in 1967, is a collective of Black farmers and landowners that emerged from the Civil Rights Movement. They focus on cooperative economic development, land retention, and advocacy to counteract systemic racism faced by Black farmers, particularly from the USDA. The organization has been instrumental in legal battles, leading to significant lawsuits and policy changes, including the Black Farmers' Caravan to Washington and the uniform partition of heirs' property act. The script highlights the importance of preserving Black-owned land and fostering a cooperative approach for future generations.

Takeaways

• 🚜 Farmers are often the first responders in disasters, using their resources and land to help, and there is a push for them to be formally recognized as such.
• 🤝 The Federation of Southern Cooperatives, founded in 1967, is a cooperative association of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives that emerged from the Civil Rights Movement.
• 🌾 The Federation focuses on cooperative economic development, land retention, and advocacy, promoting shared benefits and self-sufficiency among its members.
• ⚖️ Black farmers have historically faced systemic racism, particularly from the USDA, and community organizations like the Federation work to hold these institutions accountable.
• 🚛 The Black Farmers Caravan to Washington in 1992 highlighted discrimination in agriculture and led to the landmark class-action lawsuit Pigford vs. Glickman, which awarded over a billion dollars to Black farmers.
• ✊ The Black community often leads social justice movements, and this leadership extends to addressing agricultural discrimination, inspiring other marginalized groups to take similar actions.
• 🌱 Despite progress, Black farmers continue to face challenges similar to those from the Civil Rights era, but ongoing movements like Black Lives Matter have renewed support for their struggles.
• 🏛️ The Federation plays a key role in advocating for state and federal policies to protect Black-owned land, such as the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, which helps reduce land loss.
• 📉 The decline in Black-owned farmland is significant; from 218,000 Black farmers owning 15 million acres in 1910 to only 18,000 farmers with just over 2 million acres by 1992.
• 🌍 The Federation's mission is to promote cooperative ownership, advocacy, and infrastructure as the cornerstones of equity, ensuring that Black landowners can protect and pass on their land.

Q & A

What is the significance of farmers in disaster response?

Farmers have historically been the first to respond to disasters, both natural and man-made, with their lives, livelihoods, land, and agricultural products.

Why was the Federation of Southern Cooperatives founded?

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives was founded to build communities that could own their own land and resources, ensuring a sustainable path after gaining social and political rights during the civil rights movement.

What are the three main focuses of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives?

The Federation focuses on cooperative economic development, land retention, and advocacy.

How does a co-op differ from a single farmer operating alone?

A co-op is a group of farmers working together to share resources and benefits, creating a collective strength and support system rather than a single farmer operating independently.

What challenges have black farmers faced in the United States?

Black farmers have faced systemic racism, particularly from the United States Department of Agriculture, which has historically disadvantaged them.

What was the Black Farmer's Caravan to Washington about?

The Black Farmer's Caravan to Washington was a protest to address discrimination at the USDA, involving demonstrations and events in state capitals leading to Washington DC.

What was the outcome of the lawsuit Pickford versus Glickman?

The lawsuit Pickford versus Glickman was the largest class action lawsuit filed against the U.S. government, resulting in over a billion dollars being awarded to the black community.

How has the Black Lives Matter movement impacted the perception of black farmers?

The Black Lives Matter movement has inspired and led to an outpouring of support for black farmers and organizations, raising awareness and advocating for change.

What role do civil rights heroes like John Lewis and CT Vivian play in the movement?

Civil rights heroes like John Lewis and CT Vivian have laid the blueprint for making demands and achieving goals, inspiring the movement and its continued fight for justice.

What is the goal of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives in terms of land ownership?

The Federation aims to promote advocacy for changes to save black-owned land, protect it, and ensure it can be passed along to future generations, with a focus on cooperative ownership and infrastructure.

How has the number of black farmers and their land ownership changed over the past century?

In 1910, there were 218,000 black farmers owning about 15 million acres of land, but by the 1992 census, this had drastically reduced to only 18,000 black farmers on a little over 2 million acres of land.

Outlines

00:00

🌾 The Role of Farmers as First Responders and the Formation of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives

The paragraph discusses the pivotal role of farmers, particularly black farmers, as first responders in both natural and man-made disasters. It emphasizes the need for recognition of their contributions and the importance of supporting them. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives is introduced as an organization born out of the civil rights movement in 1967, aimed at promoting cooperative economic development, land retention, and advocacy. The founders, having gained social and political freedoms, sought to build sustainable communities through land and resource ownership. The paragraph also touches on the historical challenges faced by black farmers due to systemic racism, and the role of community-based organizations in holding institutions accountable for a fair and diverse food system. A significant event mentioned is the Black Farmer's Caravan to Washington in 1992, which led to the largest class action lawsuit against the U.S. government, resulting in over a billion dollars being allocated to the black community.

05:00

🌟 The Legacy of Civil Rights and the Ongoing Struggle for Black Farmers

This paragraph continues the narrative by highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by black farmers and the various movements aimed at addressing these issues. It expresses optimism about the potential for change, especially with the recent Black Lives Matter movement, which has shown an outpouring of support for black farmers and landowners. The paragraph pays tribute to civil rights heroes like John Lewis and CT Vivian, who laid the groundwork for making demands and achieving goals. It also discusses the future aspirations of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, which include continuing to provide services to members, advocating for policy changes, and securing resources to support black-owned land. The importance of land as a basis of wealth and the efforts to protect it are emphasized, along with the need to engage young people in the cause. The paragraph concludes by stressing the importance of cooperatives in promoting ownership, organization, and infrastructure as cornerstones of equity.

Keywords

💡Farmers as First Responders

This concept highlights the role farmers play in responding to disasters, whether natural or man-made. Farmers often risk their lives and livelihoods by providing resources and support through their land and agricultural products. The video calls for governments to officially recognize farmers as first responders, emphasizing their critical contributions during crises.

💡Federation of Southern Cooperatives

This organization is a cooperative association of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives throughout the southern United States. It was founded in 1967 during the Civil Rights Movement to address economic inequities and support land retention and cooperative development among Black farmers. The video explains the federation’s mission of economic empowerment and advocacy for Black landowners.

💡Cooperative Economic Development

Cooperative economic development refers to a business model where resources and benefits are shared among members of a community, rather than concentrated in a single entity. In the video, this approach is a core focus of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, enabling Black farmers to pool resources and achieve self-sufficiency through collaboration and collective ownership.

💡Land Retention

Land retention is the effort to protect and maintain ownership of land, particularly in Black communities, where systemic discrimination has led to significant land loss. The video emphasizes the Federation’s work to help Black farmers retain land by providing legal assistance and advocating for policy changes, such as the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act.

💡Systemic Racism in Agriculture

This refers to the historical and ongoing discrimination faced by Black farmers, particularly through institutions like the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). The video highlights how systemic racism has contributed to the loss of land and economic opportunities for Black farmers, and it underscores the need for accountability and reform to create a fairer agricultural system.

💡Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement, mentioned in the video, was a pivotal period in U.S. history when African Americans fought for social, political, and economic equality. Many founders of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives were leaders in this movement. The video ties the struggle for land ownership and economic empowerment to the broader fight for civil rights and justice.

💡Black Farmers' Lawsuit (Pigford v. Glickman)

Pigford v. Glickman was a landmark class-action lawsuit in which Black farmers sued the USDA for discrimination in its farm loan programs. The video discusses how this lawsuit, initiated by Black farmers, became the largest class-action settlement against the U.S. government and helped recover over a billion dollars for the Black farming community.

💡Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act

This legislation was designed to address the issue of Black land loss through legal loopholes that allowed land to be sold without the consent of all heirs. The video explains how the Federation worked to pass this act in several states, preventing the unfair partition and sale of land owned by Black families and protecting generational wealth.

💡Black Lives Matter Movement

The Black Lives Matter movement is highlighted in the video as a contemporary force driving social justice and advocating for equity, including in the agricultural sector. The video connects the movement’s fight against racial injustice to the ongoing struggles faced by Black farmers, showing how it has renewed focus and support for land retention and economic justice for Black communities.

💡Land as Wealth

The concept that 'land is the basis of all wealth' is a recurring theme in the video. It underscores the importance of land ownership as a foundation for economic independence and security, particularly for Black farmers. The video highlights how land ownership allows communities to build assets, pass on wealth, and maintain autonomy, which has been historically denied to many African Americans.

Highlights

Farmers are often the first responders in both natural and man-made disasters, offering their lives, livelihoods, and land to help.

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives was founded in 1967 during the civil rights movement to address the economic and land needs of Black farmers.

The mission of the Federation is focused on three pillars: cooperative economic development, land retention, and advocacy.

Cooperatives help spread resources and provide a collective voice, making farmers self-sufficient while supporting their communities.

Black farmers and landowners have historically faced systemic racism, particularly from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Federation's role includes holding the USDA accountable and ensuring equitable opportunities for Black farmers.

In 1992, the Black Farmers' Caravan to Washington D.C. highlighted discrimination at the USDA, leading to the historic Pigford v. Glickman lawsuit.

The Pigford lawsuit was the largest class-action suit against the U.S. government, resulting in over a billion dollars in settlements for Black farmers.

The success of the Black farmers' lawsuit inspired other groups, including Latino farmers and women, to file similar suits against the USDA.

Black farmers have been at the forefront of the fight for social justice, leading movements for land and agricultural equity.

The resurgence of support for Black farmers is connected to broader movements like Black Lives Matter, which has raised awareness of their struggles.

The Federation continues to provide services to its members, advocate for policy changes, and seek resources to sustain Black-owned land and cooperatives.

The Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act was a legislative response to prevent the loss of Black-owned land, passed in 17 states due to the Federation's efforts.

In 1910, there were 218,000 Black farmers owning 15 million acres of land, but by 1992, only 18,000 farmers owned just over 2 million acres, a significant decline.

The Federation aims to raise awareness among younger generations about the value of Black-owned land and encourage them to continue farming and land ownership.

Transcripts

in all disasters whether it's natural

disasters or man-made disasters

farmers have typically been the first to

respond they responded with their lives

with their livelihoods

with their farms with their land with

the products of their land

we've always considered farmers as first

responders

we just hope that there's a push for our

government and everybody else to

recognize them as such

[Applause]

[Music]

the federation of southern cooperatives

is a cooperative association of black

farmers

landowners and cooperatives all around

the south the federation

came directly out of the civil rights

movement founded 53 years ago in 1967.

1967 was an interesting time for the

federation of southern cooperatives

many of the individuals who founded the

federation

were just coming out of the civil rights

movement where

they had gained some social and

political freedoms

and of course the right to vote but what

these

leaders realized was having the social

or the political rights

without any way to sustain those rights

was not a sustainable path and so they

sought out to build

communities that would own their own

land and resources and be able to build

assets the federation is one of those

organizations that grew out of necessity

was founded by 22 cooperatives from all

around the south the purpose of the

organization the mission division have

been the same since an exception

what we focus on are three things

cooperative economic development

land retention and advocacy a co-op is a

form

of economic organization it's it's a

form of

of doing business the benefits that are

created

are shared so it's not just

one voice one farmer crying out for help

or

needing help or becoming self-sufficient

but it's about a group

working together to get resources to

spread throughout the community

black farmers and landowners have faced

a well-documented history of systemic

racism

at the hands of the united states

department of agriculture

i think the role of community-based

organizations like the federation is to

hold them accountable

and ensure that they have a level

playing field that represents a diverse

and equitable food system

our journey for social justice has

always included

protest and it allows us to

bring a social consciousness to

america

my predecessor ralph page was

a big impetus for the black farmer's

caravan to washington the caravan was

really to go

to talk about discrimination at usda in

1992

we traveled throughout the south up to

washington dc

but we had events in almost every state

capitol on the way up

when we got to washington we first

were demonstrating on the steps of the

capitol

i gave leo 50. and i

said go drive 30 40 miles outside of

washington in any direction you want

and find a pig because when we

demonstrate there i think we should have

something that symbolizes that we are

farmers and we are here in washington

we actually marched from the capitol

down to usda and they and they had

armed guards because they thought we

were going to

break into their building with our pig

like many things results are not always

seen immediately it was a year's worth

of struggle

but that caravan shared a light and

eventually led

to black farmer lawsuit pickford versus

glickman

it was the largest class action lawsuit

ever filed against the u.s government so

in that sense

it was just hugely significant more than

a billion dollars

has gone out to the black community

thanks to his lawsuit what

what was really central to understanding

is the black community was taking the

lead for justice

because there was the black farmer

lawsuit but then the

latino farmers filed a lawsuit against

the u.s department of agriculture

and women also filed suit against the

u.s department of agriculture

so the black community took the lead in

this

which is true really in most of the

justice movements in the united

states is that the black community takes

the lead and other people

follow

black farmers they've been going through

a lot in this country

and there have been various movements to

address that i'm optimistic uh that

things are starting to change and

especially with the latest movement with

this black lives matter movement

i am very inspired by the black lives

matter protest

i commend the black lives movement for

leading the change they wanted to see

for the first time i think in my

lifetime i've seen

a real like outpouring of support

for black farmers and organizations

that rally behind black farmers and

landowners

it's unfortunate that we are still

fighting some of the same battles um

and some of the challenges that they

dealt with during the civil rights

movement

but i am so grateful to

the work of our civil rights heroes

john lewis and ct vivian for just like

laying

the blueprint and really showing us how

to make demands and get what you want

accomplished

these folks were part of the civil

rights movement these folks were part of

the black cooperative movement

the land movement these folks were

honorees of the federation

reverend ct vivian the late great john

lewis

joseph lowry so all those folks who have

served the

movement and continue to serve the

movement have inspired me

looking to the future i think we want to

continue

to provide services and assistance

to our members and their cooperatives

we want to continue to advocate for

rural public policy changes

and other public policy changes that

will help our members

and we want to continue to find

resources both from the government

and from supportive individuals

that will help us go forward

before the federation started to focus

on federal legislation

we were leading state efforts to create

state laws to protect airs property

owners from

what basically amounted to legal

thievery the uniform partition of aris

property act

was drafted as an answer to decelerate

some of that land loss

and we worked with several organizations

to

write that legislation and to propose

that legislation

and it has now been passed in 17 states

the patience and persistence of the

leadership of our organization

has positioned us to be one of the lead

organizations

to promote the advocacy for changes to

save black owned land

in 1910 there were 218 000 black farmers

who owned roughly 15 million acres of

land

but before the turn of the century

according to like the 1992 census there

were only 18 000 black farmers

on a little bit over 2 million acres of

land

a lot of young people are just not aware

that this is something that is affecting

black landowners so it's really

important for us to reconnect

this is the stage that you want to

harvest tomatoes

even if we aren't heirs to land just

being able to raise awareness and

make sure that the message is amplified

that black landowners are valuable and

the land is valuable

land is the basis of all wealth the

challenge is really trying to make sure

that we protect land that we save it

that we have a vehicle for folks to

always pass their land along

and then get young folks in it how do we

really make sure there's true equity and

for us as a federation

our focus has always been on

cooperatives and cooperatives is about

ownership

it's about organizations and it's about

infrastructure

and those are the cornerstones of equity