The Color of Food : Stories of Race, Resilience and Farming

Imagine the typical American farmer. Many people visualize sun-roughened skin, faded overalls, and calloused hands—hands that are usually white. While there's no doubt the growing trend of organic farming and homesteading is changing how the farmer is portrayed in mainstream media, farmers of color are still largely left out of the picture. __The Color of Food__ seeks to rectify this. By recognizing the critical issues that lie at the intersection of race and food, this stunning collection of portraits and stories challenges the status quo of agrarian identity. Author, photographer, and biracial farmer Natasha Bowens's quest to explore her own roots in the soil leads her to unearth a larger story, weaving together the seemingly forgotten history of agriculture for people of color, the issues they face today, and the culture and resilience they bring to food and farming. __The Color of Food__ teaches us that the food and farm movement is about more than buying local and protecting our soil. It is about preserving culture and community, digging deeply into the places we've overlooked, and honoring those who have come before us. Blending storytelling, photography, oral history, and unique insight, these pages remind us that true food sovereignty means a place at the table for everyone. **Natasha Bowens** is an author, farmer, and creator of the multimedia project __The Color of Food__. Her advocacy focuses on food sovereignty and social issues. “Anyone who eats should read this book: You will come to the table with new appreciation for the intersections between race and food . . . powerful.” — Anna Lappé, author of Diet for a Hot Planet The growing trend of organic farming and homesteading is changing the way the farmer is portrayed in mainstream media, and yet, farmers of color are still largely left out of the picture. The Color of Food seeks to rectify this. By recognizing the critical issues that lie at the intersection of race and food, this stunning collection of portraits and stories challenges the status quo of agrarian identity. Author, photographer, and biracial farmer Natasha Bowens’ quest to explore her own roots in the soil leads her to unearth a larger story, weaving together the seemingly forgotten history of agriculture for people of color, the issues they face today, and the culture and resilience they bring to food and farming. The Color of Food teaches us that the food and farm movement is about more than buying local and protecting our soil. It is about preserving culture and community, digging deeply into the places we’ve overlooked, and honoring those who have come before us. Blending storytelling, photography, oral history, and unique insight, these pages remind us that true food sovereignty means a place at the table for everyone. “Natasha Bowens, through her compelling stories and powerful images of a rainbow of farmers, reminds us that the industrialization of our food system and the oppression of our people—two sides of the same coin—will, if not confronted, sow the seeds of our own destruction.”—Mark Winne, author of Food Town, USA Anyone who eats should read this You will come to the table with new appreciation for the intersections between race and food . . . powerful.Anna Lapp, author of Diet for a Hot Planet The growing trend of organic farming and homesteading is changing the way the farmer is portrayed in mainstream media, and yet, farmers of color are still largely left out of the picture. The Color of Food seeks to rectify this. By recognizing the critical issues that lie at the intersection of race and food, this stunning collection of portraits and stories challenges the status quo of agrarian identity. Author, photographer, and biracial farmer Natasha Bowens quest to explore her own roots in the soil leads her to unearth a larger story, weaving together the seemingly forgotten history of agriculture for people of color, the issues they face today, and the culture and resilience they bring to food and farming. The Color of Food teaches us that the food and farm movement is about more than buying local and protecting our soil. It is about preserving culture and community, digging deeply into the places weve overlooked, and honoring those who have come before us. Blending storytelling, photography, oral history, and unique insight, these pages remind us that true food sovereignty means a place at the table for everyone. Natasha Bowens, through her compelling stories and powerful images of a rainbow of farmers, reminds us that the industrialization of our food system and the oppression of our peopletwo sides of the same coinwill, if not confronted, sow the seeds of our own destruction.Mark Winne, author of Food Town, USA AWARDS Redefining the face of the American farmer The growing trend of organic farming and homesteading is changing the way the farmer is portrayed in mainstream media, and yet, farmers of color are still largely left out of the picture. The Color of Food seeks to rectify this. By recognizing the critical issues that lie at the intersection of race and food, this stunning collection of portraits and stories challenges the status quo of agrarian identity. Author, photographer, and biracial farmer Natasha Bowens'quest to explore her own roots in the soil leads her to unearth a larger story, weaving together the seemingly forgotten history of agriculture for people of color, the issues they face today, and the culture and resilience they bring to food and farming. The Color of Food teaches us that the food and farm movement is about more than buying local and protecting our soil. It is about preserving culture and community, digging deeply into the places we've overlooked, and honoring those who have come before us. Blending storytelling, photography, oral history, and unique insight, these pages remind us that true food sovereignty means a place at the table for everyone. If one imagines the typical American farmer, many people visualize sun-roughened skin, faded overalls, and calloused hands—hands that are usually white. While there's no doubt the growing trend of organic farming and homesteading is changing how the farmer is portrayed in mainstream media, farmers of color are still largely left out of the picture. Imagine The Typical American Farmer. Many People Visualize Sun-roughened Skin, Faded Overalls, And Calloused Hands -- Hands That Are Usually White. While There's No Doubt The Growing Trend Of Organic Farming And Homesteading Is Changing How The Farmer Is Portrayed In Mainstream Media, Farmers Of Color Are Still Largely Left Out Of The Picture. The Color Of Food Seeks To Rectify This. By Recognizing The Critical Issues That Lie At The Intersection Of Race And Food, This Collection Of Portraits And Stories Challenges The Status Quo Of Agrarian Identity. Natasha Bowens's Quest To Explore Her Own Roots In The Soil Leads Her To Unearth A Larger Story, Weaving Together The Seemingly Forgotten History Of Agriculture For People Of Color, The Issues They Face Today, And The Culture And Resilience They Bring To Food And Farming. The Color Of Food Teaches Us That The Food And Farm Movement Is About More Than Buying Local And Protecting Our Soil. It Is About Preserving Culture And Community, Digging Deeply Into The Places We've Overlooked, And Honoring Those Who Have Come Before Us. Prologue: Sowing Seeds For The Road -- Brown Girl Farming -- Rooted In Rights -- Seeds Of Resilience -- Preserving Culture And Community -- Fierce Farming Women -- Generation Rising -- Epilogue And Acknowledgments: Coming Home -- Collage: We Are Here Too. Natasha Bowens. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 225-228). Issued Also In Electronic Format. Redefining the face of the American farmerThrough her compelling stories and powerful images Natasha Bowens' rainbow of farmers ... remind us that the industrialization of our food system and the oppression of our people -- two sides of the same coin -- will, if not confronted, sow the seeds of our own destruction.-- Mark Winne, Author of Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty...The Color of Food is a stunning collection of portraits and stories that sheds light on the seemingly forgotten agricultural history of people of color. Author, photographer and biracial farmer Na Redefining the face of the American farmerThrough her compelling stories and powerful images Natasha Bowens' rainbow of farmers remind us that the industrialization of our food system and the oppression of our people -- two sides of the same coin -- will, if not confronted, sow the seeds of our own destruction.-- Mark Winne, Author of Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty The Color of Food is a stunning collection of portraits and stories that sheds light on the seemingly forgotten agricultural history of people of color. Author, photographer and biracial farmer Na