Nationwide — Shelton Muhammad, an African American farmer in Southampton County, Virginia, is asking for pressing public help to assist shield his household’s farm from what he describes as a longstanding marketing campaign of harassment, sabotage, and financial suppression led by people tied to white supremacist ideologies.
For over 15 years, Muhammad and his household have fought to take care of possession of their small farm in opposition to what he says is a coordinated effort involving native companies, authorized entities, and people with deep institutional affect. He claims that members of the U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA), the Farm Service Company (FSA), native officers, and attorneys have taken strategic actions to economically destabilize his farm in an effort to grab it via authorized and monetary manipulation.
“Generations of Black farmers have had their land stolen or have been compelled to promote via underhanded ways,” Muhammad says. “We’re decided to not let historical past repeat itself.”
Final yr, the household’s primary farming tools was reportedly sabotaged, inflicting a 20-month operational shutdown and vital monetary pressure. Muhammad says that regardless of mounting authorized and restore prices, the household was capable of retain the land. Nonetheless, he warns that one other wave of sabotage has lately focused their major farming operation — the identical one which generates income to cowl the mortgage, pay taxes, and compensate household employees.
The household has obtained a proposed actual property tax fee plan from attorneys Muhammad believes are working to create situations that might result in default and pressure a court-ordered sale. “The plan is to make us break the fee phrases after which rush our property right into a compelled sale via the courts,” he defined.
Earlier than this newest setback, Muhammad had begun implementing an agribusiness program designed to assist maintain Black-owned farms, present reasonably priced produce to native communities, and create a mannequin of financial independence for different farmers dealing with related challenges. He believes this program is a direct menace to those that want to preserve systemic management over agriculture and land possession within the area.
Now, Muhammad is asking the general public to help his efforts by sharing his story and contributing to a fundraising effort aimed toward restoring the farm’s operations, masking overdue actual property taxes, compensating employees, and increasing the agribusiness program.
“That is greater than about only one farm,” Muhammad says. “It’s about defending the legacy and way forward for Black farmers and standing as much as the techniques that proceed to work in opposition to us.”
Donations will be made by way of a GoFundMe web page to help the Muhammad household farm and the continuing improvement of the agribusiness program. Group members and supporters are additionally inspired to unfold the phrase and assist elevate consciousness of the challenges Black farmers face nationwide.
Donations will also be despatched by way of Money App: $sheltonmuhammadfarm, Zelle: 757-556-2381, or a Examine/Cash Order made payable to: Muhammad Household Farm, 33181 The Corridor Highway, Branchville, VA 23828.
For press inquiries or media interviews, contact muhammadfamilyfarm@gmail.com
