MOLINE,
Ill., June 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Deere &
Company (NYSE: DE) and Al Roker Entertainment today announced
a new documentary focused on the legacy of Black farming in America and the devastating
impact of heirs' property – property passed to family members by
inheritance, usually without a will or proper estate planning.
Without a clear title, Black
farmers are unable to qualify for government assistance, equipment
financing or agricultural programs designed to optimize their land.
In 2020, John Deere created the LEAP Coalition in partnership with
the National Black Growers Council and the Thurgood Marshall
College Fund to provide resources for farmers and landowners to
resolve heirs' property issues.
"This film serves as an important platform for Black farmers to delve into their history
while also discussing impactful ways to sustain agriculture and
places to go for help with legislation and available grants," said
Al Roker, executive producer. "The
organizations featured in the film are creating change and it's one
of the reasons our company was so interested in getting involved
with this important work."
Created in partnership with Emmy-nominated director Eternal
Polk, the documentary, Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black
Land, addresses how landowners are reclaiming their
agricultural rights and their paths to generational wealth. The
film will debut at the American Black Film Festival in Miami on June 15,
2023, and appear in screenings across the country this
summer.
"Documentaries can offer a lens into history and shed light on a
forgotten or untold story. It's more than just a form of
storytelling, it's a way to offer new viewpoints on an issue,
create lasting dialogue, and drive change," said Gaining
Ground director Eternal Polk. "With Deere's support, we were
honored to help bring this important story to life. This
documentary provides resources to those who are dealing with heirs'
property and shows others how they can get involved to support this
cause."
Black land ownership peaked in
1910 at 16 to 19 million acres, which was about 14 percent of total
arable land in the United States.
A century later, 90 percent of Black-owned land has been lost, and heirs'
property has been the leading cause for that decline. The
documentary shines a spotlight on the challenges Black farmers and landowners' must navigate to
preserve their land for future generations. The film additionally
showcases subject matter experts and practitioners' who are
actively working to address these issues.
"For farmers, land provides more than a livelihood, it provides
a legacy. For far too long, Black
farmers have had to deal with often coercive constraints, barriers
and systems that result in involuntary loss of land, economic value
and wealth. This documentary provides an opportunity for folks to
tell their stories, highlight injustice and hopefully serve as a
catalyst for concerted action to address this little known but
important and pervasive issue" said Marc
Howze, Senior Advisor, Office of the Chairman, Deere and
Company. "The message of this documentary is clear: We need to do
more to help Black farmers and
landowners unlock the tremendous value in the land they already own
to help us feed, clothe and shelter a growing population while
pursuing opportunities to build wealth and provide a legacy for
future generations."
ABOUT THE LEAP COALITION
John Deere created the LEAP Coalition in 2020 in partnership with
the National Black Growers Council and the Thurgood Marshall
College Fund. The LEAP Coalition provides legal,
educational and other resources to help farmers and landowning
families gain clear title of their land. It works to unlock
economic value for farmers, while also eliminating systemic
barriers to wealth building faced by Black farmers and other historically
disadvantaged communities.
To learn more about the LEAP Coalition, to help Black farmers, and provide support to support
LEAP coalition partners visit:
https://www.deere.com/gainingground.
To learn more about the documentary, visit:
https://gaininggroundthefilm.com/.
About John Deere
Deere & Company
(www.JohnDeere.com) is a global leader in the delivery of
agricultural, construction, and forestry equipment. We help our
customers push the boundaries of what's possible in ways that are
more productive and sustainable to help life leap forward. Our
technology-enabled products including John Deere Autonomous 8R
Tractor and tillage solution, See & Spray™, and E-Power Backhoe
are just some of the ways we help meet the world's increasing need
for food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere & Company also
provides financial services through John Deere Financial.
For more information on Deere & Company, visit us
at www.deere.com/en/news/.
About Al Roker Entertainment
Formed in 1994, Al Roker
Entertainment (ARE) is an industry-leading producer of original,
award-winning TV programs and digital content. Led by 14-time Emmy
winning TV personality and trusted media authority Al Roker, ARE partners with a creative
consortium of producers, directors, writers, agencies, and talent
to ideate, produce, activate, and amplify original content
globally, using a variety of broadcast, cable, OTT, social, and
streaming platforms. ARE works with brands, non-profits, ad
agencies, and PR companies to generate and inspire audiences
through social impact branded entertainment storytelling.
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SOURCE Deere & Company