Farming While Black is a feature-length documentary film which examines the historical plight of Black farmers in the United States and the rising generation reclaiming their rightful ownership to land and reconnecting with their ancestral roots.
As the co-founder of Soul Fire Farm in upstate New York, Leah Penniman finds strength in the deep historical knowledge of African agrarianism – agricultural practices that can heal people and the planet. Influenced and inspired by Karen Washington, a pioneer in urban community gardens in New York City, and fellow farmer and organizer Blain Snipstal, Leah galvanizes around farming as the basis of revolutionary justice. In 1910, Black farmers owned 14 percent of all American farmland. Over the intervening decades, that number fell below 2 percent, the result of racism, discrimination, and dispossession. The film chronicles Penniman and two other Black farmers’ efforts to reclaim their agricultural heritage. Collectively, their work has a major impact, as each is a leader in sustainable agriculture and food justice movements.

Language: english; Duration: 75min We will discuss the film afterwards with farmers from the the Bi_POC* led Aloti-farm.

Aloti-farm is an organic permaculture farm in Werder Havel, led by and centering Bi_PoC, queer,migrant and disabled people. The farm, founded by Nicole, has attracted hundreds of helpers and collaborators via Mitmachtage, retreats and workshops on the field, as well as film screenings and community events promoting sustainable agriculture and climate justice. Aloti-farm’s focus is to offer systemically marginalized people a safer space in the countryside where they can reconnect with nature, learn about sustainable agriculture and organize with other decolonial groups around climate justice. They also aim to make organic, local and seasonal produce accessible to racialised, queer, disabled, migrant and low income communities who are historically priced out of it. Our consensus has always been to welcome anyone who shares our values of social and climate justice. However they are committed to first and foremost, center the needs and experiences of Bi_PoC, queer, migrant, refugee as well as disabled people.
They distribute 32 weekly boxes which are delivered to two locations in Berlin, sell a small portion of our produce to farmers markets in Werder, and donate any surplus to initiatives and organisations who allign with our politics.