Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
  • Videos
  • News / Events
  • Film Participants
  • Partners
  • Filmmaker

Black ownership of farmland has dwindled to alarmingly low numbers. From Executive Producer Al Roker, Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land examines the causes, effects, and solutions to this issue.

Play Video about Gaining Ground the fight for black land

In just a few decades after the end of enslavement, Black Americans were able to amass millions of acres of farmland. Today approximately 90% of that land is no longer in Black hands. Various factors have been employed to take Black land including violence, eminent domain and government discrimination. But it is a little-known issue, Heirs’ Property which has had a devastating effect on Black land ownership. Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land from Emmy Nominated Director Eternal Polk examines the causes, effects, and what is being done to fight the exploitation of this law and how landowners are reclaiming their agricultural legacy and creating paths to generational wealth.

Play Video about What is Heirs Property Land?

What is Heirs' Property?

Play Video about Connection to land

What is The LEAP Coalition?

Play Video about Why Black Land Ownership is Important

Why is Black Land Ownership Important?

Play Video about Leap Coalition

Connection to Land:
Why land is important for food, fuel and infrastructure?

News / Events

UPCOMING FILM FESTIVAL SCREENINGS

Click the festival name below for info & tickets

  • Oct. 1 – 12pm – Detroit Black Film Festival-Detroit, MI
  • Oct. 14 – 1pm – Carolina Film Festival-Charlotte, NC

More to be announced soon. Want to get in touch? Send us an email to our team at info@gaininggroundthefilm.com and someone will get back to you. Be sure to follow us on Instagram for updates! We’ll see you at the movies!

New Round of Film Festivals Announced!

We are pleased to announce a new round of film festivals that have selected GAINING GROUND: THE FIGHT FOR BLACK LAND for exclusive screenings! Grab a ticket for one of these movie events near you - most also include a conversation with the producer/director Eternal Polk and other invited guests. As more festivals announce the inclusion of our award-winning documentary, we'll post them here and on our Instagram page. Click through to view the latest dates and locations and remember to reach out to us with any questions > info@gaininggroundthefilm.com

Executive Producer AL ROKER: We Won! Time to Celebrate!  

Al Roker couldn't be happier! Gaining Ground: The Fight For Black Land continues to garner accolades and awards, recently grabbing the BEST DOCUMENTARY prize at BronzeLens in Atlanta, DC Black Film Festival in Washington DC, Filmteenth International Film Festival in Bethesda, Maryland and BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY at the Essence Film Festival in New Orleans. Click through to read Al Roker's reaction to the news from our friends at the U.S. Sun!

The Buzz: Gaining Ground in the News!

From blogs to Black radio, Gaining Ground has inspired a good deal of coverage from those interested in not just the award-winning documentary, but also the issues the film spotlights regarding Black land loss. We are grateful for the various and varied coverage of this film and its journey as we continue to present it at Summer film festivals. Click through to link to the many ways Gaining Ground has been presented in the media and be sure to follow the film on Instagram for the latest news, events, and press links.

Film Participants

Civil Rights Historian Danita Mason Hogans

Danita Mason-Hogans

Civil Rights Historian / Educator / Activist

Dania Davy of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives

Dãnia Davy

Director of Land Retention & Advocacy at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives

Michael J Robinson, CAP

Michael J. Robinson

Landowner

Landowner Debra Ely

Dr. Debra Ely

Landowner

Prof. Thomas Mitchell

Professor Boston College

Doctor Jennie Stephens

Dr. Jennie Stephens

CEO - Leadership Team
Preservation - Center For Heirs' Property Preservation

Author and Filmmaker Natalie Baszile

Natalie Baszile

Author / Filmmaker

Karen Washington of Rise and Root Farm

Karen Washington

Rise & Root Farm

PJ Haynie II of Haynie Farms

Phillip (PJ) Haynie III

Haynie Farms
COB/National Black Growers Council

Civil Rights Activist Shirley Sherrod

Shirley Sherrod

Civil Rights Activist / Founder New Communities, Albany GA

Marc A Howze of John Deere

Marc A. Howze

Group President, Lifecycle Solutions and Chief Administration Officer, John Deere

Film Participants

Civil Rights Historian Danita Mason Hogans

Danita Mason-Hogans

Civil Rights Historian / Educator / Activist

Dania Davy of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives

Dãnia Davy

Director of Land Retention & Advocacy at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives

Michael J Robinson, CAP

Michael J. Robinson

Landowner

Debra Ely

Landowner

Professor Thomas Mitchell of Boston College

Prof. Thomas Mitchell

Professor Boston College

Doctor Jennie Stephens

Dr. Jennie Stephens

CEO - Leadership Team
Preservation - Center For Heirs' Property Preservation

Author and Filmmaker Natalie Baszile

Natalie Baszile

Author / Filmmaker

Karen Washington of Rise and Root Farm

Karen Washington

Rise & Root Farm

PJ Haynie II of Haynie Farms

Phillip (PJ) Haynie III

Haynie Farms
COB/National Black Growers Council

Civil Rights Activist Shirley Sherrod

Shirley Sherrod

Civil Rights Activist / Founder New Communities, Albany GA

Marc A Howze of John Deere

Marc A. Howze

Group President, Lifecycle Solutions and Chief Administration Officer, John Deere

Partners

The Leap Coalition
National Black Growers Council
Federation of Southern Cooperatives

Do you need more information regarding Heirs’ Property? Contact one of the Partners above.

Meet the Filmmakers

Al Roker and Eternal Polk at Advertising Week NY

Al Roker

In addition to being the iconic Emmy Award-winning weatherman and co-host of NBC’s Today Show, Mr. Roker is also an author of 13 books and is a multiple award-winning television producer. As owner/CEO of Al Roker Entertainment, Inc. (@alrokerent), Mr. Roker develops and produces television and film programming for broadcast, network, cable, streaming, and digital/social platforms. Al Roker Entertainment also creates trusted branded video content for the world’s leading corporations, brands, and nonprofits messaging the social impact activities and corporate give-back designed to help create a better world. Al Roker Entertainment is NY-based with offices in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Connect with Al Roker on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Visit Al's Website

Eternal Polk

Eternal Polk is a two-time Emmy-nominated director, writer, and segment producer with over 20 years of directing short and long-form projects including documentaries, music videos, branded content, & commercials. Intimate, nuanced, and intentional while placing subjects on a pedestal to display their humanity is how Eternal describes his directing style and mission. Eternal has served as a creative director participating in ideation and copywriting of client commercial and branded content spots, while earning Telly, Webby, Shorty, and Ooma awards. His work has been featured on HBO, FOX, ESPN, ABC, BET, VH1, and MTV. Gaining Ground: The Fight For Black Land is his first feature film as director and executive producer.

Visit Eternal's Website
Film Credits

#gaininggroundthefilm

Gaining Ground The Fight for Black Land

Sign up for more information

waiting....

Thank you joining us at Gaining Ground!

Instagram

© 2023 Gaining Ground The Film • All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Scroll to top
  • Home
  • About
  • Videos
  • News / Events
  • Film Participants
  • Partners
  • Filmmaker