by Laura Henderson
Today is June 20th. It is the day after June 19th or Juneteenth. This is an obvious statement of course. What seems to remain less obvious to many Americans – in particular those racialized as White – is that after Emancipation, and after Union Troops arrived in Galveston Bay, TX on June 19, 1865, full Emancipation – absolute freedom from human-designed and enforced oppression – has not been achieved.
In a session on June 17th, the GPI Growing Community Practitioners learned that in 1910, approximately 15% of agricultural land in the US was owned by descendants of former enslaved and free Black Americans. Today, that percentage is approximately 0.32%. Please pause on that information and reflect. This is only one indicator of far too many, that full Emancipation has not been achieved.
As an organization that identifies itself as cultivating well-being through urban agriculture (access to fresh local food, and mind-body education), and has dedicated much time, energy and resources to “urban agriculture training,” we have a particular responsibility. Especially as an organization operating in the field of agriculture – the industry in the United States through and for which enslavement was first institutionalized. In particular, as an organization founded and predominantly led by people racialized as White, we are responsible for educating ourselves on the history we haven’t been taught, to develop understanding of the social, cultural, institutional and structural dynamics that maintain the elusiveness of complete Emancipation.
As an organization of individuals, we are collectively and individually accountable for how we participate in either maintaining the status quo of elusive Emancipation or working for the realization of complete Emancipation. This is not because Growing Places Indy has been consciously or intentionally blocking it. The intention has been to create access and equity. However, the default, programmed norm in the United States is to maintain the status quo, and it is possible to take actions that offer access and equity band-aids, while not actually addressing or even deepening the wounds of inequity and injustice. Thus, continued practices and relationships of accountability, and the willingness to engage in deep self reflection (individual and organizational) and to acknowledge even unintended participation and harm, are required.
It means nothing to recognize or celebrate Juneteenth on the 19th, and do nothing different in how we operate and be on June 20th.