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Jennifer Adams's avatar

Marie, I always learn so much from your articles. I did not know about this land loss, and it reminds me of learning about red-lining for the first time in 2020. These are the kinds of things that people should be so much more aware of to help understand systemic racism and its continuing effects.

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Pam's avatar

The headline made me think that this was going to be about taking land from Indigenous people. How tragic that American lands have such a history of repeated theft and displacement of non-white people.

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Gina S Meyer's avatar

Marie, thank you for the history. Here is how our local newspaper The KC Defender is changing the storyline by empowering local black farmers to feed local food desert residents. And it’s named after Fannie Lou Hamer!

https://kansascitydefender.com/agriculture/hamer-free-food-black-farmers-snap-cuts/

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Mary Goldring's avatar

Once again so much of our reported history has deceived us into believing we are truly the land of the free. Thanks so much for this eye opening piece. I had no idea of this history of systemic racism in the area of agriculture.

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Polly Crookston's avatar

This is just one more reason that reparations are needed.

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Elisabeth Birker's avatar

Thank you so much for this eye opening and well written piece! Heartbreaking to be sure!

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Clark Walker's avatar

It is so very sad that Black Farmers have been treated so badly by the USDA over the years . They would gladly work the land for the mutual benefit of all Americans but because of racial bias that is baked into the system that favors whites over blacks, the black people consistently lose out . I truly feel for them and hope that our government will do the right thing by them soon .

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Gina S Meyer's avatar

Clark, thank you for your sympathy and hope.

The KC Defender newspaper has taken action, and you can, too. They have organized local black farmers to feed our local food deserts. It’s a win-win!

https://kansascitydefender.com/agriculture/hamer-free-food-black-farmers-snap-cuts/

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