Black Co-op Leaders Gather to Create National Network
Cooperatives Like the Freedom Georgia Initiative are established out of an extreme sense of urgency to create a thriving safe haven for black families in the midst of racial trauma, global pandemics, and economic instabilities across the United States of America!
Their vision is to develop a vast resource-rich 502 acres of land just outside Toomsboro, GA for the establishment of an innovative community for environmentally sustainable-living, health & wellness, agricultural & economic development, arts & culture for generations to come. But they are not alone. All over the South a movement to build premier recreational, educational, and cultural destination for Black families who have decided to pool their resources to build their own communities free from lifetime debt.
The cooperative farming model adopted by the Freedom Georgia Initiative is well-suited to assist Black farmers, who have faced historical discrimination in America. Additionally, it presents opportunities for millennials, Gen Z, and even vintners interested in acquiring vineyards.
In the early 20th century, formerly enslaved people and their descendants owned 14 million acres of land. Since then, more than 90 percent of Black farmers have lost their land for a number of reasons, in large part due to discriminatory practices at the USDA. Over the years, many Black farmers have been denied loans and credit, were unable to access legal defense against fraud and subjected to acts of violence and intimidation. Similar to the way Mexican ranchers along the Texas border were murdered and their land stolen by the illegal immigrant European ancestors of the same people who shout "BUILD A WALL" in response to migrants.
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund is a crucial entity supporting Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives throughout the Southern Region. It offers resources for cooperative development, promoting economic growth and autonomy. The Federation assists Black landowners in maintaining their land, tackling issues such as heirs' property, and advocates for fair policies and programs that benefit Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives.
In North Georgia, famous for its exceptional wines, the wine industry is addressing sector inefficiencies by motivating small-scale grape farmers and winemakers to form cooperatives. This strategy aims to eliminate obstacles that have impeded advancement. Despite boasting 8,000 vintages, Georgian wines have come onto the world wine map only recently—thanks in part to the amber-wine trend, and growing interest in natural wines.
The potential of the Georgian wine industry is not fully utilized. High fragmentation of agricultural land leads to limited production that restricts farmers' access to capital resources, finances, and markets, and prevents further development of the Georgian wine industry. Grape collectors and wine makers need help to join their capital and efforts, to gain economies of scale in production and marketing by jointly accessing agricultural inputs.
The low efficiency in agriculture was due to the extensive fragmentation of agricultural land, a consequence of land reforms implemented before the 1990s. Despite having 0.802 million hectares of cultivable land, the average landholding size for rural households remains at only 1 hectare, with a mere 5% of households possessing more than 2 hectares. This small-scale production inherently restricted access to capital, financial resources, and markets, hindering the growth and optimization of Georgia's wine industry potential. Moreover, outdated winemaking equipment from the Soviet era is inadequate for producing export-quality wines. Historically, banks have been detrimental to black farmers, providing minimal support that often led to failure and perpetual debt.
The Black cooperative movement has been a silent partner to many significant moments in Black history in the US, from survival in economic depressions to the union movement to the civil rights In June, over 200 co-op members, co-op developers, supporters, and community organizers from across the country gathered in St. Paul, MN, for the Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC)’s third annual national conference on the Black cooperative agenda. Addressing the conference, Melvin Carter, St. Paul’s first African American mayor, said the city wanted to become “the co-op capital of the world.”
The fact that St. Paul’s mayor would keynote a co-op conference and call for a co-op-centered economy speaks to the increased prominence of the Black cooperative movement. The movement is rooted in a century-plus history of Black co-op organizing, but growth in recent years has been extraordinary. This is particularly true in the food co-op sector, with a new wave of Black-led and people-of-color-led co-ops opening this decade in such places as Dayton, OH; Detroit, MI; and Boston, MA. There has also been a rising tide of Black-led worker co-ops, including an estimated two dozen in New York City alone.
The movement is rooted in a century-plus history of Black co-op organizing, but growth in recent years has been extraordinary. At the conference, participants expressed far greater ambitions. Ron Hantz, founder and executive director of NDCC, noted pointedly, “We have to connect. We have to build. This is okay, but it ain’t where we want to be.”
Black co-op organizing, noting that Black cooperation is not new. Not only is there an extensive history of Black co-op organizing in the United States, but, cooperative “practices have long been around in African communal and Indigenous cultures. It is very aligned in our ways of being.”
Cooperatives, deeply rooted in the African principle of ubuntu, embody a profound sense of interconnectedness and community. The concept of "I am because we are" underscores the core ethos of Black-led cooperatives, emphasizing the collective over the individual. This philosophy places a strong emphasis on solidarity, highlighting the importance of working together towards common goals.
Within the context of cooperatives, this principle translates into a commitment to shared responsibility and mutual support. Members of these cooperatives not only work towards their individual success but also strive to uplift and empower one another. The spirit of ubuntu fosters a sense of belonging and camaraderie, creating a supportive environment where everyone's contributions are valued.
Furthermore, the values of solidarity, collective work, and responsibility that underpin African cooperatives have a rich historical significance. These principles have been ingrained in the fabric of African societies for generations, serving as the foundation for community-building and sustainable development. By upholding these values, Black-led cooperatives continue to honor their cultural heritage and promote social cohesion within their communities.
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