Member-only story

Ed Scott's Fight for Family Farm and Racial Justice in the Mississippi Delta

Anton Foster

·8.9k Followers· Follow

Published in Catfish Dream: Ed Scott S Fight For His Family Farm And Racial Justice In The Mississippi Delta (Southern Foodways Alliance Studies In Culture People And Place Ser 2)

4 min read · 2 weeks before

112 View Claps

8 Respond

Save

Listen

Ed Scott, a Black farmer in Mississippi, has been fighting for decades to keep his ancestral land and for racial justice in the Deep South. His story is a testament to the resilience and determination of Black farmers in the face of systemic racism and discrimination.

Catfish Dream: Ed Scott's Fight for His Family Farm and Racial Justice in the Mississippi Delta (Southern Foodways Alliance Studies in Culture, People, and Place Ser. Book 2)

by Douglas Scott Brookes

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4245 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	160 pages

Early Life and Family Farm

Ed Scott was born in 1938 in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, a town founded by freed slaves after the Civil War. His family has been farming the same land in the Mississippi Delta for generations. The Scott family farm has been a source of livelihood and pride for the family, and Ed has always been passionate about continuing the family legacy.

Challenges Faced by Black Farmers

Black farmers have faced significant challenges throughout history, including discrimination in lending, land ownership, and access to government programs. In the Mississippi Delta, Black farmers have also been victims of violence and intimidation. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups targeted Black farmers, burning their crops, vandalizing their property, and even murdering some farmers.

Ed Scott's Activism

Despite the challenges, Ed Scott has never given up fighting for his family farm and for racial justice. In the 1980s, he joined the Mississippi Black Farmers Alliance, a group that fought for the rights of Black farmers. Scott has also worked with the National Black Farmers Association and other organizations to advocate for policies that support Black farmers.

In 1999, Scott filed a class-action lawsuit against the USDA, alleging that the agency had discriminated against Black farmers in lending and other programs. The lawsuit was eventually settled, and the USDA agreed to pay billions of dollars in compensation to Black farmers.

Recognition and Awards

Ed Scott's work has been recognized and honored by numerous organizations. He has received the Reebok Humanitarian Award, the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Legacy

Ed Scott's legacy is one of resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to justice. He has spent his life fighting for his family farm and for the rights of all Black farmers. His work has made a difference in the lives of countless people, and his story continues to inspire others to fight for what they believe in.

Ed Scott's fight for family farm and racial justice is a reminder that the struggle for equality is not over. There is still much work to be done to address the systemic racism that continues to impact Black farmers and other marginalized communities. Ed Scott's story is a call to action for all of us to work towards a more just and equitable society.

Catfish Dream: Ed Scott's Fight for His Family Farm and Racial Justice in the Mississippi Delta (Southern Foodways Alliance Studies in Culture, People, and Place Ser. Book 2)

by Douglas Scott Brookes

4.8 out of 5