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Gaining Ground The Fight for Black Land

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.

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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 tactics have been employed to take Black land including violence, eminent domain and government discrimination. But it is a little-known law, 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.
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What is Heirs' Property?

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What is The LEAP Coalition?

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Why is Black Land Ownership Important?

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

News / Events

Tending to your Garden

Horizon Media NOIR CORE – Black History Month Panel

Over 100 invited guests of Horizon Media attended this virtual Black History Month Event with Gaining Ground Writer/Director, Eternal Polk and moderated by Horizon Media’s NOIR CORE members, Alysha Carson and Kyla Nwede. After viewing a clip from the Gaining Ground documentary, the panel explored the history and modern-day realities of Black soil, agriculture, and gardening with each offering how we can continue to progress not only as a society via opportunities but also as individuals, by tending to healing our own internal gardens.

Eternal Polk and Johanne Domerset

Gaining Ground Producer/Director Eternal Polk and John Deere’s Johane Domersant featured speakers at Charting Your Own Course Conference (CYOC)

Johane Domersant, Head of Global Talent Supply, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/John Deere, and Gaining Ground Producer/Director Eternal Polk offer inspirational advice to career-minded attendees using their personal stories as motivation. This event took place in Orlando December 2022.

Al Roker, Eternal Polk and John Deere employees at Advertising Week NY

Al Roker Hosts John Deere Execs and Producer / Director Eternal Polk at Advertising Week New York

In this packed discussion at Advertising Week NYC, Al Roker moderated a conversation with Mara Downing, Vice President, Global Brand Management and Corporate Communications/John Deere, Johane Domersant, Head of Global Talent Supply, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/John Deere, and Gaining Ground Producer/Director Eternal Polk on how brands can effectively craft storytelling to communicate solutions to social issues. This event also teased the documentary Gaining Ground - The Fight For Black Land with clips and discussion. The complete talk is presented above.

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

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

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
Gaining Ground The Fight for Black Land

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