You can’t garden without getting your hands dirty. And liberation works the same way. Our ancestors knew this well, but what does that mean for us today?
Having to survive on the scraps their captors gave them, the enslaved often planted gardens to supplement their diets. "Provision grounds" usually contained enough nutrient-rich crops like sweet potatoes, collard greens, and okra to help the enslaved survive starvation.
During the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras, food blockades made getting access to food difficult, if not impossible. Having tended their own gardens and sharing the fruits of their labor with other Black families kept our community fed and pushed back against white terrorism.
Community gardens in Black neighborhoods weren't just places to grow food; they created spaces for unity. Sharing crops, tools, knowledge, and labor deepened Black solidarity that was crucial during times of political and social upheaval.
Community gardening has always been an act of resistance. It is also a profound expression of love, solidarity, and collective healing. By cultivating the land together, Black communities are fighting against systemic oppression and food insecurity and nurturing a deeper connection to each other and our heritage.