Aug 17 · 6 min read
Photo Credit: Black Yield Institute via Instagram (@blackyield)
For many of us working in the social impact sector, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a wave of emails containing list upon list of resources and ways to support others in need. Many organizations are jumping in with two feet to do something — even if it is to gather and share resources. These responses came with both an understandable, and necessary, urgency.
Despite these efforts, the pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities. In our previous Stories to Support piece, “Baltimore’s Black Food Sovereignty Movement: What You Need To Know,” Clarissa Chen illustrated the relationship between COVID-19, systemic racism, and food apartheid — illustrating how the current pandemic provides a new context for an issue that is not at all new. Food apartheid is yet another example that nothing -no matter how urgent- exists in a vacuum; we are always living and working within the context of systemic and institutional racism and white supremacy culture.
Eric Jackson, Founder & Servant-Director of Black Yield Institute (BYI), believes we need to move with an “urgent process” pushing against the binary of “either, or” to assert that it is a “both, and” situation. This past week Clarissa and I met with Eric to talk about how BYI approaches their work — especially during a pandemic, and gather his advice for people looking to engage in the movement for Black land and food sovereignty.
we are always living and working within the context of systemic and institutional racism
BYI is a Pan-African power institution based in South Baltimore that works towards Black land and food sovereignty. Black Yield Institute aims “to create a self-determined and self-reliant community of Black institutions, Black-owned businesses and people of African Descent in Baltimore’s poor and Black food environments.” Their five main initiatives involve two direct action projects and three programs that facilitate political education work, action network building, and community-based participatory action research. The two specific action projects are the Cherry Hill Urban Community Garden, and the Cherry Hill Food Co-op, both of which operate in Baltimore’s Cherry Hill community.
“We want to be both responsive to what’s happening in the here and now- that has been impacted by history- but also we want to make history by creating sustainable coordinated interventions that deal with where we are right now and build power toward the future.” — Eric Jackson
Black Yield Institute’s work expands beyond an organizational mission: BYI puts focus on social movement building informed by, and rooted in, community accountability. “The ultimate goal for BYI is to really be an incubator,” Eric explains. BYI’s projects, emerging from community conversations and expressed needs, are intended to become their own entities. Eric continues, “and if we’ve done our job, then we’ve developed leaders that can lead these new entities that are part of this larger movement work.”
Black Yield Institute aims “to create a self-determined and self-reliant community of Black institutions, Black-owned businesses and people of African Descent in Baltimore’s poor and Black food environments.
BYI’s holistic, intentional approach to their work has not changed amidst the current pandemic. While some engagements moved to virtual platforms, and they began distributing food and supplies to community members, they continued to connect their direct action work to their larger strategy and movement building. The lesson in this extends beyond the pandemic.
Eric described how a lack of strategy harms social movement building, including the recent reinvigoration of the Movement for Black Lives. “Emotions are driving people to the street… We should be moving with our emotions, but the armor that protects our emotions and longevity has to be our collective consciousness and has to be relationships… So when we go to the street, we are actually returning somewhere afterward to talk about what’s next.” The armor that Eric is referencing takes time and strategy to build up, and he believes we all need to be using the tools in our toolbelt to do so.
Eric’s advice for those looking to engage in movement work:
Slow down and start with you.
“Don’t do anything outwardly- just chill out. Then ask yourself, ‘why do you feel the impulse to do something?’… ‘what about you deserves to be connected to this work?’ It’s not about worth but why do you deserve to do it? Is it because of your privilege? And if it is, what has your privilege afforded you that you’re willing to give to establish relationships and connection to this movement…as a means of reparatory justice- to repair- rather than to make your name look good and put some pictures and nice words on Instagram. And if that’s the answer — not only slow up, but stay your ass at home.”
This candid, intrapersonal reflection is necessary to engage in movement work. We all internalize and uphold facets of white supremacy culture, knowingly and/or subconsciously. To identify those beliefs and actions, we have to be our own biggest critic — without ego and pride clouding our judgment and motivations.
Actually talk to people.
“Relationships are the building blocks of movements.”
Many of us get stuck in “analysis paralysis,” meaning we think the answer is to keep reading and learning without experiencing. Eric connected this to the dangers of only committing to “saying all the right things.” If we avoid vulnerability and authentic relationships -ones where you can risk screwing up to learn and grow- then we risk being lulled to sleep by fancy words that we might not really understand. He adds, “there’s this illusion that you’ve already grown and that you’ve come to this place of self-actualization. When the truth is you’ve been actualized through the works of other people.”
Talking to people and learning about their experiences is one approach. “You can read, but we won’t move the needle if we’re only intellectually in it. This movement should be a whole-body experience,” Eric explained.
Third, humble yourself.
“Help is not ‘help’ if it’s not helpful. So how do you know if it’s helpful? Ask people questions. Can I help? Is there room for me? If there isn’t, back the f*ck up.”
Black liberation work should be led by Black people. If you’re looking to engage in this movement work, those leading should be the ones defining the terms and conditions. Once you’ve done the introspective work and relationship building outlined above, identify what you bring to the table (skills, time, dollars, etc.) and ways to use them. Then, ask how you can be helpful.
How Can You Support Black Yield Institute?
Donate to Black Yield Institute
Volunteer at the Cherry Hill Urban Community Garden
Support the Cherry Hill Food Co-op
Stream Baltimore’s Strange Fruit — a documentary film produced by Black Yield Institute, directed by Eric Jackson and Maddie Hardy
Want to Learn More About Food Sovereignty in Baltimore?
Read: Baltimore’s Black Food Sovereignty Movement: What You Need To Know
Watch: Black Yield Institute youtube series “CHUCG TALK”
Listen: Future City podcast — Sweet Potatoes and Power: Food Security in Baltimore
Do you know of an initiative responding to COVID-19 as a racial equity issue? Complete our Airtable Form to be featured on Stories to Support!
Thank you to Eric Jackson of BYI for sharing your time, energy, and wisdom. And, thank you to the collaborators of Stories to Support for contributing to this piece.
Written by Hannah Correlli
Interview conducted by Clarissa Chen and Hannah Correlli
Edited by Clarissa Chen, Kate Lynch, Blake Wrigley, & Hess Stinson