The Good Food Revolution By Allen Talks

1047 Words5 Pages
In the story The Good Food Revolution, Will Allen talks about his struggles as an African American male trying to live out his dream of sustaining a profitable farming career while doing well for the community. What started as a small roadside market is now a national business which helps low-income families gain access to healthy foods and also helps build a better community. Throughout his journey, Allen experienced countless setbacks and was exposed to several issues dealing with race. Access to healthy food is a struggle for the poor, and in particular, African Americans. The problem starts with the lack of black farmers. Out of the 900,000 farms said to have been run by African Americans in 1920 only 18,000 of them are still in business. During the Great Migration young men and women of color wanted to get away from the stereotypes and stigmas of working on a farm. To the younger generations, farming just reminded them of a worse time. “Some black leaders encouraged my parents’ generation to leave the land as a way of self-improvement” (6). People were told to make a statement by leaving. As a result, many left the farming world for a new life and a liberal education. Will Allen even tried to get away from the trade himself by focusing on basketball. However, he decided to embrace what his family had once loved. In the very beginning of his journey, Allen faced some rough discrimination when trying to apply for grants, loans, and help. “My experiences reflect the
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