The Acres of Ancestry Initiative highlights the "400-year Black agrarian liberation struggle," and "re-centers ecocultural traditions in collaboration with rural communities throughout the Black Belt region," through various projects. For example, the Return of the Bees Multimedia Project tells the story of "southern Black agrarian material culture," sharing the perspectives of heritage quiltmakers who used their artistry to supplement their farming incomes and further the Civil Rights movement. In addition to the text summary, readers will find two embedded videos; the first is the short film Return of the Bees, a compilation of interviews and stories related to the project, and the second features an interview with Cookie Washington, a fiber artist. Another project, Gunny Sack of Wisdom, uplifts the voices of Black social thinkers, including activists, farmers, and writers. Named for the burlap bags used during chattel slavery and sharecropping, the project honors Ancestors who, "like the sturdy gunny sacks that carried their daily labor," remained committed to each other and future generations. Readers will also find information about upcoming Events, a collection of relevant news stories (under Press), and links to various social media channels. Black Belt Justice Center, a legal and advocacy nonprofit organization supporting African American farmers, landowners, and communities in the Black Belt region, serves as the fiscal sponsor.
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