Exploring the Strange Fruit of Agriculture : Coming Together for Racial Understanding

Workshop Presentation
Pamala V. Morris,  Ayanna Bledsoe  

Agriculture and race are inextricably linked within the context of the United States (Smedley, 2011). This fraught relationship has evolved over the centuries from chattel slavery, to sharecropping, to lynching, and stolen lands. Even with the evidence of history staring us in the face the field of Agriculture is hesitant to acknowledge the role of race and racism within the field (Carney, 2001). Purdue University College of Agriculture (CoA) has made an intentional decision to acknowledge, understand, and address the complicated relationship between race and agriculture. In 2019 CoA became a pilot participant of Coming Together for Racial Understanding (CTRU). CTRU is a national evidence-based curricula and process, currently being implemented in 20 states. It was developed to respond to the need for dialogue to promote racial understanding and healing, and to provide recommendations to build greater staff capacity in this area. This workshop offers opportunities to experience the curriculum, review the curriculum, and overview of lessons learned in working with CoA faculty and staff through the CTRU curriculum.