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Leslie Craig's avatar

Thankyou for including the recording of her singing!! You can hear the power and determination in her voice.

I’m enjoying this series immensely and learning a lot. As a white girl growing up in the 60’s and 70’s I never of most of these stories. Thankyou for bringing them to our attention. We need to hear them over and over in these extremely challenging times.

You are a treasure.

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Desireé B Stephens's avatar

Ahhhhh this warms my heart Leslie! This is my honor to bring our stories to light. Who we are should be celebrated without shame and with utter joy. I’m so glad you listened to her music she was a powerhouse and it’s my homage to the ancestors to add this series 💗

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Sheri Muntean's avatar

I was just looking at book about Freedom Farm. I am particularly interested because I have a friend who really wants to follow that model on her land. Having said that, I found a lot of books on Fannie Lou Hammer, but none about the farms in particular. Do you have book recommendations?

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Sheri Muntean's avatar

I should add that I am interested in a biography, but don't know where to start!

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Desireé B Stephens's avatar

That’s such an important and inspiring model to follow! Fannie Lou Hamer’s Freedom Farm Cooperative was a powerful example of collective land ownership, food sovereignty, and self-determination for Black communities. While there isn’t a single book that focuses solely on the Freedom Farm, you can find pieces of its story woven into books about Hamer’s activism and the broader history of Black agrarian movements.

I am happy to share some resources: https://www.soulfirefarm.org

https://www.federation.coop

as far as books: "Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land" by Leah Penniman https://a.co/d/8Yi8yJd – Not about Freedom Farm specifically, but deeply inspired by its legacy and offers practical guidance for land-based liberation work.

"Until I Am Free: Fannie Lou Hamer's Enduring Message to America" by Keisha N. Blain https://a.co/d/hMWB6vo – While it primarily covers her life and activism, it highlights the importance of Freedom Farm in her work.

"Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice" https://a.co/d/gy48xjn by Jessica Gordon Nembhard – This book is essential for understanding the legacy of Black cooperative movements, including Freedom Farm.

Happy Reading and Unlearning

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Sheri Muntean's avatar

Thank you!!

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Desireé B Stephens's avatar

super welcome

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