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.
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.
What is Heirs' Property?
What is The LEAP Coalition?
Why is Black Land Ownership Important?
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
Danita Mason-Hogans
Civil Rights Historian / Educator / Activist
Dãnia Davy
Director of Land Retention & Advocacy at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives
Michael J. Robinson
Landowner
Dr. Debra Ely
Landowner
Prof. Thomas Mitchell
Professor Boston College
Dr. Jennie Stephens
CEO - Leadership Team
Preservation - Center For Heirs' Property Preservation
Natalie Baszile
Author / Filmmaker
Karen Washington
Rise & Root Farm
Phillip (PJ) Haynie III
Haynie Farms
COB/National Black Growers Council
Shirley Sherrod
Civil Rights Activist / Founder New Communities, Albany GA
Marc A. Howze
Group President, Lifecycle Solutions and Chief Administration Officer, John Deere
Film Participants
Danita Mason-Hogans
Civil Rights Historian / Educator / Activist
Dãnia Davy
Director of Land Retention & Advocacy at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives
Michael J. Robinson
Landowner
Debra Ely
Landowner
Prof. Thomas Mitchell
Professor Boston College
Dr. Jennie Stephens
CEO - Leadership Team
Preservation - Center For Heirs' Property Preservation
Natalie Baszile
Author / Filmmaker
Karen Washington
Rise & Root Farm
Phillip (PJ) Haynie III
Haynie Farms
COB/National Black Growers Council
Shirley Sherrod
Civil Rights Activist / Founder New Communities, Albany GA
Marc A. Howze
Group President, Lifecycle Solutions and Chief Administration Officer, John Deere
Partners
Do you need more information regarding Heirs’ Property? Contact one of the Partners above.
Meet the Filmmakers
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.
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.