About the Book
Why is less than 1% of rural land in the U.S. owned by Black people?
To understand the contemporary racial wealth gap, we must first unpack 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, resulting in an existential dilemma: Who owns what on stolen land? Who owns what with stolen labor? To answer these questions, we must confront one of this nation’s first sins: stealing, hoarding, and commodifying the land.
Acclaimed writer and activist Brea Baker explores the impact of land theft, violent displacement, and racial wealth gaps in her new book Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership arguing that justice stems from the literal roots of the earth.
