Preserving Black Ancestral Land & Culture | Acres of Ancestry Initiative
Background
The Acres of Ancestry Initiative is dedicated to preserving Black ancestral farmland and cultural traditions in the Southern United States. Through spiritual healing and economic justice, the initiative works to protect the legacy of Black farmers and artisans, ensuring that land, culture, and history are passed down to future generations. Founded in 2012, the initiative emerged as a response to the pervasive racial discrimination faced by Black farmers in the U.S., many of whom lost their land due to unjust practices by the USDA.
Acres of Ancestry Initiative provides legal, financial, and cultural support to these farmers and rural artisans, ensuring their land and heritage are preserved.
Impact
The initiative has secured over $15 million in debt cancellation for Black legacy farmers.
More than $1.5 billion in cash payments have been awarded to farmers who endured decades of racial discrimination.
Our traveling exhibitions of Black fiber art and sweetgrass basketry have helped preserve and elevate agrarian material culture, engaging communities across the U.S.
We provide financial assistance and mutual aid to over 75 traditional artisans, empowering them to sustain their crafts and livelihoods.
Conclusion
The Heart of Acres of Ancestry: How Spirituality Makes Our Work Different
Initiative is the understanding that land is central to both liberation and cultural memory. Rooted in Southern Black agrarian ways of knowing, our work is about more than land ownership — it’s about spiritual healing, reclaiming cultural traditions, and rebuilding communities. By intertwining faith, ancestral knowledge, and economic justice, we create a space where joy and resilience thrive alongside justice. Join to explore how spirituality and cultural reclamation are fueling a movement to preserve Black ancestral land and history.