Ashanté M. Reese - Black Food Geographies

Black Food Geographies

Black Food Geographies

Race, Self-Reliance, and Food Access in Washington, D.C.

Ashant M. Reese

University of North Carolina Press CHAPEL HILL

This book was published with the assistance of the Z. Smith Reynolds Fund of the University of North Carolina Press.

2019 The University of North Carolina Press

Foreword 2019 Dara Cooper

All rights reserved

Set in Merope Basic by Westchester Publishing Services

Manufactured in the United States of America

The University of North Carolina Press has been a member of the Green Press Initiative since 2003.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Reese, Ashant M., author.

Title: Black food geographies : race, self-reliance, and food access in the nations capital / Ashant M. Reese.

Description: Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018046425| ISBN 9781469651491 (cloth : alk. paper) |

ISBN 9781469651507 (pbk : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781469651514 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH : Food securitySocial aspectsWashington (D.C.) | Deanwood (Washington, D.C.)Social conditions. | African AmericansWashington (D.C.)Social conditions. | Food supplySocial aspectsWashington (D.C.) | Food industry and tradeSocial aspectsUnited States.

Classification: LCC F 205. N 4 R 44 2019 | DDC 363.8/509753dc23

LC record available at https:// lccn .loc .gov /2018046425

Cover illustrations: Front : detail of Garin Bakers 28 Blocks mural (photo by Seshat Yonshea Walker); detail of First Harvest iStock.com/Tassii; Washington DC USA Map silhouette iStock.com/werbeantrieb. Back : Juan Pinedas Greetings from Deanwood mural (photo by Seshat Yonshea Walker).

For my grandmother, Helen Cooper,
my first real-life example of how care sustains us;
for Terrance and Mr. Parker,
who helped shape this book but did not get to see its final form;
and for Nikki,
who taught me to live with curiosity and fervor.
I love each of you. Thank you for going a piece of the way with me.

Contents

Figures, Maps, and Tables

FIGURES

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36

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40

92

112

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124

MAPS

30

48

49

TABLES

50

53

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Foreword

What an incredible honor to write the foreword for such a groundbreaking, thoughtful, and important book that I hope will have a far-reaching impact on mainstream narratives around Black communities, food justice, agency, and resilience.