John Deere to air ‘Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land’

AGDAILY Reporters · June 14, 2023

By 1910, Black Americans had amassed 60 million acres of farmland. In 2023, that number has dropped to 3.9 million acres. Violence, eminent domain, and government discrimination all had an impact. But it’s a little-known issue, heirs’ property, which contributed greatly to the devastation of Black land ownership.

“Heirs’ property is the main cause of involuntary land loss for Black landowners today. It’s a huge challenge for Black families regarding their most valuable resource,” shares Tharlyn Fox, LEAP Coalition Manager for John Deere.

To help Black farmers and landowners keep their land, John Deere established the LEAP Coalition, which works to eliminate barriers created by heirs’ property. Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land is a new documentary exploring these issues and the experiences of people impacted by land loss.

“It’s not just a legal story. It’s not just an economic story. It’s a people story. It’s a family story,” wrote Al Roker, Executive Producer of Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land.