Black farmers in our area say long legacy of institutional racism has led to their disappearance

74% decrease in Black farmers in Florida over past 100 years

 

Posted at 7:08 PM, Jan 15, 2021
and last updated 11:15 AM, Jan 18, 2021

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Many Black farmers in our area say they’re struggling to survive and it’s not just because of the pandemic. They say racism and discriminatory practices in the farming industry have made it impossible to stay afloat.

ABC Action News in-depth reporter Anthony Hill dug deeper into their concerns and pushed leaders in the agriculture industry for answers.

Since the beginning of this country’s inception, Black people have had a connection with the land. For many, owning cultivating land signifies a sense of freedom.

“I love farming. I like to watch it grow.” Willie Joe Woods has been a farmer in Brooksville for 42 years and he’s grown practically everything, “like watermelon, cantaloupes, eggplants, squash, you name it,” said Woods….

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