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Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership
A powerful history of the impact of land theft and violent displacement on Black communities in the U.S., arguing that justice and reparations will stem from the literal roots—by an acclaimed writer, political strategist, and national organizer
It is impossible to understand the twenty-first-century racial wealth gap without first unpacking the historic attacks on Indigenous and Black land ownership. From the moment that colonizers set foot on Virginian soil, a centuries-long war was waged, and long after those initial colonial pursuits, an existential dilemma remained: Who owns what on stolen land? Who owns what with stolen labor? To answer these questions, we must be willing to face one of this nation’s first sins: stealing and hoarding the land.
Recent research suggests that between 1910 and 1997, Black Americans lost about 90% of their farmland. Now, less than 1% of rural land in the U.S. is owned by Black people despite the centuries of labor, enslaved or free, that cultivated those very same lands. Land theft has widened the racial wealth gap, privatized natural resources, and created a permanent barrier to land that should be a birthright for Black and Indigenous communities. Rooted traces the experiences of Brea's own family's history of having land violently taken from them, in Kentucky and North Carolina, to explore historic attacks on Black land ownership and understand the persistent racial wealth gap. Ultimately, her grandfather's decades spent purchasing small parcels of land back resulted in the "Baker Acres"—a haven for the family, and a place where they are surrounded by love, sustained by the land, and wholly free.
Beyond examining the effects of the violence of centuries past, Rooted is a testament to the deep resilience of Black farmers who envisioned an America with them at the center: able to feed, house, and tend to their communities. By bearing witness to their commitment to freedom and reciprocal care for the land—even as it came at great personal cost—we can chart a path forward.
It is impossible to understand the twenty-first-century racial wealth gap without first unpacking the historic attacks on Indigenous and Black land ownership. From the moment that colonizers set foot on Virginian soil, a centuries-long war was waged, and long after those initial colonial pursuits, an existential dilemma remained: Who owns what on stolen land? Who owns what with stolen labor? To answer these questions, we must be willing to face one of this nation’s first sins: stealing and hoarding the land.
Recent research suggests that between 1910 and 1997, Black Americans lost about 90% of their farmland. Now, less than 1% of rural land in the U.S. is owned by Black people despite the centuries of labor, enslaved or free, that cultivated those very same lands. Land theft has widened the racial wealth gap, privatized natural resources, and created a permanent barrier to land that should be a birthright for Black and Indigenous communities. Rooted traces the experiences of Brea's own family's history of having land violently taken from them, in Kentucky and North Carolina, to explore historic attacks on Black land ownership and understand the persistent racial wealth gap. Ultimately, her grandfather's decades spent purchasing small parcels of land back resulted in the "Baker Acres"—a haven for the family, and a place where they are surrounded by love, sustained by the land, and wholly free.
Beyond examining the effects of the violence of centuries past, Rooted is a testament to the deep resilience of Black farmers who envisioned an America with them at the center: able to feed, house, and tend to their communities. By bearing witness to their commitment to freedom and reciprocal care for the land—even as it came at great personal cost—we can chart a path forward.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 30, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley and Random House One World for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was a engrossing read covering the history of land displacement of Blacks from the time they could own and cultivate land, to those Blacks who were rich and owned areas of land, Black communities that were razed and people killed and how all of this adds up financially for those that were uprooted and the wealth gap that now exists. The book also shows the resilience of black communities and how they took care of their own and how people are now going back to the land of their people. For many it is foreign as it was taken away so many generations ago but giving land back should be part of the reparations as so much comes from having a place or your own, a home for the generations, natural resources to sustain your people and an area where your community can flourish. This book connects all the dots of the damage that has been done to break a people but they continue to strive and thrive.
June 17, 2024
this was everything i wanted it to be and more!!! brea baker turns our attentions towards the american south where black landownership rates are worse now than they were 100 years ago. baker synthesizes existing research about the deliberate and legalized system of land theft from black americans and also weaves in personal narratives of her own family's struggle to own and maintain land. baker is also sure to emphasize that at every turn, black people have always struggled for self-determination and have resisted oppression and theft. in considering what a future in which black reparations & indigenous landback co-exist, baker points towards existing models that could potentially be scaled up. baker refuses black capitalism and instead envisions a future of land stewardship and a reconnection with the land. this book is bursting at the seams with love and it is such a gift!!! everyone please read this asap!!!
February 28, 2024
Brea Baker is, first and foremost, a freedom fighter. She has been working on the frontlines for almost a decade including contributing to dozens of electoral and advocacy campaigns. She has a B.A. in Political Science from Yale and has been recognized as a 2023 Creative Capital awardee, a 2017 Glamour Woman of the Year and much more.
With "Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership," Baker explores the impact of land theft and violent displacement on racial wealth gaps. She poses the quesiton "Why is less than 1% of rural land in the U.S. owned by Black people?"
Then, Baker begins to unpack it all.
Writing in a way that is both well-informed and deeply personal, Baker explores the historic attacks on Indigenous and Black land ownership and looks at one of this nation's first sins - stealing, hoarding, and commodifying the land.
Baker notes that research suggests that between 1910-1997, Black Americans lost about 90% of their farmland. This land theft widened the racial wealth gap, privatized natural resources, and created a permanent barrier to access that should be a birthright for Black and Indigenous communities.
Throughout "Rooted," Baker speaks of her own family's experiences in Kentucky and North Carolina. She also speaks with love and admiration of her grandparents' commitment to Black land ownership and the area that would become known as Bakers Acres.
"Rooted" is a passionate call for reparations and an embrace of certain paths toward that act of justice that can heal both the land and, in Baker's words, "our nation's soul."
There's a matter-of-factness to "Rooted" that some will find jarring. I found it rather refreshing, a passionate truth-telling and call into action grounded in extensive research and personal testimonial. In a country where institutionalized racism is still prevalent, it is practically undeniable that "Rooted" won't resonate with everyone. So be it. For those in search of a better and more just way, "Rooted" is engaging and powerfully reasoned reading that demands our attention.
With "Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership," Baker explores the impact of land theft and violent displacement on racial wealth gaps. She poses the quesiton "Why is less than 1% of rural land in the U.S. owned by Black people?"
Then, Baker begins to unpack it all.
Writing in a way that is both well-informed and deeply personal, Baker explores the historic attacks on Indigenous and Black land ownership and looks at one of this nation's first sins - stealing, hoarding, and commodifying the land.
Baker notes that research suggests that between 1910-1997, Black Americans lost about 90% of their farmland. This land theft widened the racial wealth gap, privatized natural resources, and created a permanent barrier to access that should be a birthright for Black and Indigenous communities.
Throughout "Rooted," Baker speaks of her own family's experiences in Kentucky and North Carolina. She also speaks with love and admiration of her grandparents' commitment to Black land ownership and the area that would become known as Bakers Acres.
"Rooted" is a passionate call for reparations and an embrace of certain paths toward that act of justice that can heal both the land and, in Baker's words, "our nation's soul."
There's a matter-of-factness to "Rooted" that some will find jarring. I found it rather refreshing, a passionate truth-telling and call into action grounded in extensive research and personal testimonial. In a country where institutionalized racism is still prevalent, it is practically undeniable that "Rooted" won't resonate with everyone. So be it. For those in search of a better and more just way, "Rooted" is engaging and powerfully reasoned reading that demands our attention.
June 13, 2024
Being published June 18th, this is the perfect read to honor Juneteenth! Told through the history of her own family as well as other extensively researched examples, Ms. Baker shows the exact steps that were taken by individuals, the government, and corporate bodies to steal land from the formerly enslaved and their descendants. Having read several books regarding the horrors we continue to perpetrate against Blacks, I was impressed at how focused Ms. Baker remained on her topic despite the myriad of detours and distractions that could have taken her off course. As the title suggests, the book singles in on the ownership and kinship with land, past present and future. Ms. Baker made me understand how important a connection to the land is to people, the importance of nurturing that connection, and importantly how to achieve that connection and security. The book discusses the overall disconnect between Black people and the land and the dearth of Black participation with the many parks and outdoor activities. I'd suggest those interested in others encouraging outdoor discovery to find Alison Marie Desir and Mirna Valerio on IG. They are both huge proponents of trail running, hiking, and getting Black people into the outdoors. While it isn't growing your own food, it is a connection. Additionally, I found the suggestions on reparations at the end of the book to be insightful and thought provoking.
Thanks to Random House - One World for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to Random House - One World for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
July 8, 2024
"Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership" by Brea Baker examines how racial wealth disparities in America are impacted by land theft and relocation. In this novel, Baker explores the damaging legacy of exploitation and injustice from colonial times to the present. She also discusses the historical backdrop of Black and Indigenous property ownership.
Part memoir, part historical text, Baker demonstrates how land theft contributed to racial disparities and sustained systemic inequality. She exposes the terrible effects of land theft, which has robbed Black people of their connection to the land as well as their economic prospects.
Baker honors the will of Black landowners and farmers who have struggled to recover their ancestral property through institutional oppression. Her painstaking attention to detail honors forgotten individuals and their steadfast dedication to community and freedom. "Rooted" is a call to action for the Black community's environmental and economic freedom. Baker gives an engaging vision for a more just and equitable future by emphasizing the value of land ownership as a method of empowerment and self-determination. She does an amazing job at sharing the price our forefathers had to pay for land ownership as well as the repercussions of being withheld from our heritage.
I believe this novel is extremely important in the field of Black studies. If you are interested in land and power in America and how race gravely affects the two, then you should give Rooted your time.
Part memoir, part historical text, Baker demonstrates how land theft contributed to racial disparities and sustained systemic inequality. She exposes the terrible effects of land theft, which has robbed Black people of their connection to the land as well as their economic prospects.
Baker honors the will of Black landowners and farmers who have struggled to recover their ancestral property through institutional oppression. Her painstaking attention to detail honors forgotten individuals and their steadfast dedication to community and freedom. "Rooted" is a call to action for the Black community's environmental and economic freedom. Baker gives an engaging vision for a more just and equitable future by emphasizing the value of land ownership as a method of empowerment and self-determination. She does an amazing job at sharing the price our forefathers had to pay for land ownership as well as the repercussions of being withheld from our heritage.
I believe this novel is extremely important in the field of Black studies. If you are interested in land and power in America and how race gravely affects the two, then you should give Rooted your time.
April 1, 2024
Interwoven with the author’s extensive family history and relationship to land ownership, Brea Baker provides a well-researched, heart-breaking and inspirational text on how white supremacy, violence, capitalism and government have tried for over a century to rob Black people of landownership. Furthermore, she delves into how Black people have individual and complex relationships with land and agrarian work. Baker does a good job of including Indigenous American history to the same time period, how the removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands is directly tied to environmental degradation and racism. Reparations and sovereignty rights should be the goals for our society to acknowledge and attempt to make amend for past wrongs and abuse and toward healing the land we all need to survive.
I received an e-book via NetGalley.
I received an e-book via NetGalley.
May 10, 2024
ROOTED |
Thank you so much @oneworldbooks #gifted copy.
This comes out in June!
From the words of Malcolm X, "Revolution is based on land. Land is the basis for all independence. Land is the basis of freedom, justice, inequality."
Since time immemorial, land has been one of the major markers of the depiction of freedom. The signification of land has always been inextricably tied to the sense of one's personal freedom, to show one is capable of surviving off the land, exploring new lands, free to choose where one goes, off into the distance or settling where one wants. Land is survival. Land is the ability to choose and to provide and to hand down to future generations a means of sustenance, shelter and wealth.
Land has also, as Baker demonstrates, been a point over which white men in power have routinely denied Black Americans the right to buy, hold, possess and bequeath to family and it has cost black Americans greatly.
After slavery, many freedmen and women sought to own land and were tied into worse contracts as sharecroppers; this we all know. But there were also mass traumas and fearmongering of mobs who forced Black Americans to flee. Many fled and abandoned dreams of retaining land in the South. And then there was the redlining, segregation, the steamrolling and devaluation of black land, the denial of loans with inflated taxes in hopes of repossession.
Then when all else fails there's always eminent domain that the city can call upon.
I found that the author created a very readable, comprehensive and illuminating read on the history of the denial of American land to black Americans, farmers specifically.
This is in conversation with that Clint Smith's How The Word Is Passed as well as The Color of Law.
Is this one on your radar??
4.5
Thank you so much @oneworldbooks #gifted copy.
This comes out in June!
From the words of Malcolm X, "Revolution is based on land. Land is the basis for all independence. Land is the basis of freedom, justice, inequality."
Since time immemorial, land has been one of the major markers of the depiction of freedom. The signification of land has always been inextricably tied to the sense of one's personal freedom, to show one is capable of surviving off the land, exploring new lands, free to choose where one goes, off into the distance or settling where one wants. Land is survival. Land is the ability to choose and to provide and to hand down to future generations a means of sustenance, shelter and wealth.
Land has also, as Baker demonstrates, been a point over which white men in power have routinely denied Black Americans the right to buy, hold, possess and bequeath to family and it has cost black Americans greatly.
After slavery, many freedmen and women sought to own land and were tied into worse contracts as sharecroppers; this we all know. But there were also mass traumas and fearmongering of mobs who forced Black Americans to flee. Many fled and abandoned dreams of retaining land in the South. And then there was the redlining, segregation, the steamrolling and devaluation of black land, the denial of loans with inflated taxes in hopes of repossession.
Then when all else fails there's always eminent domain that the city can call upon.
I found that the author created a very readable, comprehensive and illuminating read on the history of the denial of American land to black Americans, farmers specifically.
This is in conversation with that Clint Smith's How The Word Is Passed as well as The Color of Law.
Is this one on your radar??
4.5
June 20, 2024
4.5 stars
Rooted straddles the line between memoir and historical text as author Brea Barker shares some of her and her family’s stories about land ownership, primarily in North Carolina. The book also gives a long lens view of Black land theft over the course of American history. The personal is political and the political is personal. It’s not easy to write a book like this at the right level. Brea Barker walked the line between family stories and researched history very well. If you’re aiming for the average person, you need to add context for people to understand the historical and current political setting. But you also need to cut to the chase or else the length of info will quickly become overwhelming for the reader. The author straddled that line very well. At times, I did find the authorial voice a bit jarring because I’d be evaluating it as an academic historical text but the descriptive language would become personalized. I did a google search & their website clearly states the author embraces “nuanced storytelling” and that encapsulated the reading experience for me.
*Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the advance reader copy
Rooted straddles the line between memoir and historical text as author Brea Barker shares some of her and her family’s stories about land ownership, primarily in North Carolina. The book also gives a long lens view of Black land theft over the course of American history. The personal is political and the political is personal. It’s not easy to write a book like this at the right level. Brea Barker walked the line between family stories and researched history very well. If you’re aiming for the average person, you need to add context for people to understand the historical and current political setting. But you also need to cut to the chase or else the length of info will quickly become overwhelming for the reader. The author straddled that line very well. At times, I did find the authorial voice a bit jarring because I’d be evaluating it as an academic historical text but the descriptive language would become personalized. I did a google search & their website clearly states the author embraces “nuanced storytelling” and that encapsulated the reading experience for me.
*Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the advance reader copy
July 21, 2024
Returning to your home, seeing a white family chilling on the couch and meeting you with " What are you going to do about it?". I haven't read such a well justified and cited history in regards to black folks and land. What was forced, lost, and what can be gained. I listened to the book first, then bought the it from her website. I like it. I genuinely have thoughtful conversations with white colleagues about reparations and I will recommend this/loan so that they KNOW and more importantly have the cited historical evidence to better conceptualize.
May 27, 2024
This one was tough to read in some parts. I thought it was great, very informative. You know I even liked how it connected to other modern colonization happening currently, yes I was excited when it mentioned Puerto Rico. All because as I kept reading it I just kept seeing the parallels.
Honestly I recommend this to everyone.
I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Honestly I recommend this to everyone.
I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 2, 2024
Land theft.
Violence.
Crumbs disgusted as repentance.
Continued violence.
Turning a blind eye.
Community building.
Community restoration.
Legacy.
Hope.
This book is powerful and I hope will give context and inspiration for all that read it. I pray one day the land that was taken will be returned and healing can begin/continue for more families.
Violence.
Crumbs disgusted as repentance.
Continued violence.
Turning a blind eye.
Community building.
Community restoration.
Legacy.
Hope.
This book is powerful and I hope will give context and inspiration for all that read it. I pray one day the land that was taken will be returned and healing can begin/continue for more families.
June 24, 2024
Well-researched and informative book occasionally marred by writing quality one would expect to find in an undergraduate research paper rather than in a serious scholarly work.
3.5 rounding up, as this is an important book about an important topic, quibbles about the writing notwithstanding.
3.5 rounding up, as this is an important book about an important topic, quibbles about the writing notwithstanding.
May 10, 2024
I had my car stolen by a bravo mike. If you guys get your land, can I get a free car?
June 27, 2024
“Less than 1 percent of rural land in the United States is owned by Black people.” In ROOTED, Baker discusses violent land theft, the impact on Black communities, Black people’s relationship to the land, and means of reparations and justice.
Deeply researched and well-written, this book was easy to read from an accessibility standpoint, though difficult to digest emotionally. Baker speaks with authority and passion, sharing personal and family history with respect and love. I learned much from the historical chronology and found that the additions of Baker’s personal information as well as material from interviews made the narrative all the more resonant. I appreciated the inclusion of Indigenous history as Black and Indigenous land justice are very much intertwined.
Profound and insightful, ROOTED is an essential read.
Deeply researched and well-written, this book was easy to read from an accessibility standpoint, though difficult to digest emotionally. Baker speaks with authority and passion, sharing personal and family history with respect and love. I learned much from the historical chronology and found that the additions of Baker’s personal information as well as material from interviews made the narrative all the more resonant. I appreciated the inclusion of Indigenous history as Black and Indigenous land justice are very much intertwined.
Profound and insightful, ROOTED is an essential read.
July 7, 2024
This book was an essential read and SO good! I’d add this to my list of necessary books for white americans.
July 22, 2024
Very interesting and informative read!
May 19, 2024
"Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership" by Brea Baker explores the impact of land theft and displacement on the racial wealth gap in America. In this meticulously researched work, Baker addresses the historical context of Indigenous and Black land ownership and traces the harmful legacy of exploitation and injustice from colonial times to the present day.
Drawing from her own family history of land loss in Kentucky and North Carolina, Baker shows readers how land theft has perpetuated systemic inequality and widened racial disparities. She reveals the devastating consequences of land theft, which has not only deprived Black communities of economic opportunities but also robbed them of their connection to the land.
One of the aspects I enjoy most about this book is how the author examines land theft from various angles and perspectives. Baker ties together personal narratives, historical accounts, and contemporary research to offer a comprehensive understanding of the issue. From wrongful property tax assessments to the psychological toll of dispossession (love the connections she makes to Black mental and familial health), she sheds light on the multifaceted ways in which land theft continues to affect Black Americans today.
Baker celebrates the determination of Black farmers and landowners who have fought against systemic oppression to reclaim their rightful heritage. Through her meticulous attention to detail, she pays homage to unsung heroes and their unwavering commitment to freedom and community. "Rooted" is a call to action for collective economic and environmental independence within the Black community. By highlighting the importance of land ownership as a means of empowerment and self-determination, Baker offers a compelling vision for a more just and equitable future. She does a phenomenal job of helping readers understand the cost our ancestors paid for land ownership as well as the consequences we face if we remain disconnected from our roots.
"Rooted" is truly a groundbreaking work that not only exposes the historical injustices of land theft but also offers a roadmap for reclaiming ancestral lands and building a more equitable society. Brea Baker's profound insights, coupled with her evocative storytelling, make this book essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of race, land, and power in America. Thank you so very much to the publisher and author for the opportunity to read.
Drawing from her own family history of land loss in Kentucky and North Carolina, Baker shows readers how land theft has perpetuated systemic inequality and widened racial disparities. She reveals the devastating consequences of land theft, which has not only deprived Black communities of economic opportunities but also robbed them of their connection to the land.
One of the aspects I enjoy most about this book is how the author examines land theft from various angles and perspectives. Baker ties together personal narratives, historical accounts, and contemporary research to offer a comprehensive understanding of the issue. From wrongful property tax assessments to the psychological toll of dispossession (love the connections she makes to Black mental and familial health), she sheds light on the multifaceted ways in which land theft continues to affect Black Americans today.
Baker celebrates the determination of Black farmers and landowners who have fought against systemic oppression to reclaim their rightful heritage. Through her meticulous attention to detail, she pays homage to unsung heroes and their unwavering commitment to freedom and community. "Rooted" is a call to action for collective economic and environmental independence within the Black community. By highlighting the importance of land ownership as a means of empowerment and self-determination, Baker offers a compelling vision for a more just and equitable future. She does a phenomenal job of helping readers understand the cost our ancestors paid for land ownership as well as the consequences we face if we remain disconnected from our roots.
"Rooted" is truly a groundbreaking work that not only exposes the historical injustices of land theft but also offers a roadmap for reclaiming ancestral lands and building a more equitable society. Brea Baker's profound insights, coupled with her evocative storytelling, make this book essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of race, land, and power in America. Thank you so very much to the publisher and author for the opportunity to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews