Inside 'Return to the Land': The group making a whites-only community in Arkansas

Summary

The documentary explores Return to the Land, a far-right, white nationalist community in the Ozark Hills of Arkansas, where residents aim to create a racially exclusive society under the guise of preserving 'white American culture.' The film follows the community's leaders and members as they build homes, raise families, and reinforce their ethnic identity through strict membership criteria, social events, and online networks. While proponents frame it as a safe, loving space for people of European ancestry, the project raises serious ethical and legal questions about racial exclusion, segregation, and the broader resurgence of white supremacist movements in the U.S.

Takeaways

• 🏡 Return to the Land (RTTL) is an intentional community in the Ozark Hills, Arkansas, focused on preserving white American culture through controlled membership.
• ⚖️ The community operates legally through a Private Members Association (PMA) and a limited liability company (LLC), claiming this structure circumvents civil rights restrictions.
• 🌐 Social media and online networks are crucial for recruitment, connecting members globally and spreading their ethnonationalist ideology.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Members are encouraged to grow families within the community, sometimes incentivized through financial rewards for children, reinforcing population growth.
• 🛠️ Daily life involves communal labor, building infrastructure like cabins and roads, with both men and women contributing to the community's functioning.
• 🎵 Cultural activities, such as Baroque music performances, are emphasized as part of creating a shared identity and sense of community.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Exclusion based on race is central to the group's ideology, though members frame it as preserving heritage rather than overt prejudice.
• 📈 RTTL is part of a growing movement, with similar communities forming in other regions of the U.S. and aspirations to expand internationally.
• 📊 The community and its activities raise concerns locally and legally, with state authorities monitoring potential racial discrimination and constitutional issues.
• 🔥 The group combines traditional community-building with modern tools like technology and political networks to promote and sustain a white supremacist agenda.
• 🤔 The script contrasts the community's perspective with those who view it as morally objectionable and potentially harmful to societal cohesion.
• 🕰️ The narrative situates RTTL in a broader historical context of segregation, identity politics, and reaction to contemporary sociopolitical changes in the U.S.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the 'Return to the Land' community?

The main goal of the 'Return to the Land' community is to create a settlement where people of European ancestry can live together, preserve their culture, and ensure a sense of identity for future generations.

Where is the 'Return to the Land' community located?

The community is located high in the Ozark Hills in the state of Arkansas, in a remote area chosen for privacy and isolation.

How does the community justify excluding people based on ethnicity?

The community argues that exclusion is not about oppression but about preserving white American culture and identity, framing it as a matter of free association rather than racial prejudice.

What legal structure allows 'Return to the Land' to operate?

The community operates under a Private Members Association (PMA) and a Limited Liability Company (LLC), which they believe enables them to legally restrict membership and property access based on ethnicity.

What activities are central to the daily life in the community?

Daily life includes building and maintaining the settlement, homeschooling children, preparing community dinners, and socializing within the group. Work parties are held to engage both residents and new recruits.

How does social media play a role in the community?

Social media is used for recruitment, sharing videos of the settlement, and connecting members. Many residents, including couples, first learned about the community online.

What are some of the controversial symbols and messages used by the community?

The community uses symbols like Nordic runes, references to the '1488' white supremacist code, and discussions that minimize or debate the Holocaust, which are meant to signal alignment with far-right ideologies.

How do local residents and authorities view the community?

Some locals are wary but uninformed about the group. The Arkansas State Attorney General expressed concern, noting racial discrimination has no place in Arkansas and that the matter raises potential legal and constitutional issues.

What motivations do members cite for joining the community?

Members are motivated by a combination of cultural preservation, desire for community, ideological beliefs, and practical reasons like affordable land or housing.

How do community leaders address the topic of morality and racism?

Leaders often avoid labeling themselves as racist, framing their actions as cultural preservation. They argue that modern definitions of racism are overly broad, and that excluding non-Europeans from their community is a matter of identity rather than prejudice.

Are there plans to expand the community concept beyond Arkansas?

Yes, leaders aim to establish similar communities across the U.S., in places like Appalachia and the Pacific Northwest, and potentially expand internationally, creating a network of ethnically exclusive settlements.

How does the community incentivize population growth?

The community has an online fundraiser that rewards parents with cash for having children, encouraging larger families to help grow the population of the settlement.