BOUNTIFUL HARVEST: Gaining Ground in the News!

Official Press Release (June 2023) – (Click>) Documentary from John Deere and Al Roker Entertainment Puts the Spotlight on Land Ownership Challenges Facing Black Farmers

AD AGE (Oct. 2022): How Brands Are Leaning into Social Impact Storytelling – “Several brand executives at this year’s Advertising Week New York discussed their corporate activism efforts. As many consumers want to see brands taking action, here’s a look at how two marketers—one in agricultural machinery, and one in delivery—are connecting with their communities.”  Click HERE

VARIETY (June 2023): Al Roker’s Latest Project Examines Struggles of Black Farmers – “It’s one of those iceberg issues. There’s so much more under the surface.” – Al Roker. Click HERE

BLACK ENTERPRISE (June 2023) – DOCUMENTARY FROM AL ROKER ENTERTAINMENT PUTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON LAND OWNERSHIP CHALLENGES FACING BLACK FARMERS –“Documentaries can offer a lens into history and shed light on a forgotten or untold story. It’s more than just a form of storytelling, it’s a way to offer new viewpoints on an issue, create lasting dialogue, and drive change” Click HERE

ONE COUNTRY PROJECT – Rural Progress Summit – Keynote Speaker Eternal Polk (June 2023) – Eternal Polk joins former Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy at the summit to discuss his new film Gaining Ground: The Fight For Black Land. Click HERE

ROGER EBERT (June 2023) – American Black Film Festival: Black Barbie, Gaining Ground, Higher Power-“Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land” is impeccably shot; the magnificence of the landscapes and the pride exuded by its rightful owners was a great effort by the filmmaker.” Click HERE

ESSENCE (June 2023): Black Farmers Have Lost Their Land At Alarming Rates. New Documentary Highlights Why And The Push For Preservation –“This documentary provides an opportunity for folks to tell their stories, highlight injustice and hopefully serve as a catalyst for concerted action to address this little known but important and pervasive issue” – Marc Howze, Senior Advisor, Office of the Chairman, Deere and Company. Click HERE

U.S. SUN (July 2023) – TIME TO CELEBRATE! Al Roker announces exciting career news outside of Today show as fans insist there’s ‘nothing he can’t do’-TODAY host Al Roker announced a documentary from his entertainment company won a big award at the Essence Film Festival. Click HERE

BC LAW (JULY 2023) – ‘Gaining Ground’ with Thomas Mitchell – “The documentary focuses particularly on a little-known law called partition law, which has played a significant role in the loss of so-called heirs’ property, a prevalent form of property ownership for Black and other disadvantaged families. In a 2022 groundbreaking report, Mitchell and a panel of researchers concluded that approximately $326 billion worth of properties have been taken from Black farmland owners since 1920.” Click HERE

PBS NEWS HOUR (July 2023) ‘Gaining Ground’ highlights Black farmers’ efforts to reclaim lost land– “A new documentary explores how this happened, its lasting effect on Black families and their efforts now to reclaim their legacy. Filmmaker Eternal Polk joins John Yang to discuss.” Click HERE

BLEX MEDIA (July 2023) –Gaining Ground Interview with Eternal Polk and Tharlyn Fox –  “In candid and insightful conversations with filmmaker Eternal Polk and Tharlyn Fox, the essence of the documentary’s message is explored. “Gaining Ground” not only calls for increased awareness of the history of black farming but also underscores the importance of celebrating, understanding, and improving the experiences of the Black family” Click HERE

WBZ CBS NEWS BOSTON (August 2023) – New documentary examines how Black farmland was lost through legal loophole “WBZ-TV’s Courtney Cole reports. Interview with Tharlyn Fox” Click HERE

MARTHA’S VINEYARD TIMES (August 2023) –‘Gaining Ground’ at MVAAFF – “Roker also says that in addition to farmers, the film resonates with people from urban areas, and even Vineyarders. “You look at Martha’s Vineyard, and the tradition of Black areas like Oak Bluffs and other areas. This is an issue here. So I think it has a universality, and it resonates with people all across the country.” Click HERE

ATLANTAFI.COM (August 2023) ‘Gaining Ground: The Fight For Black Land’ Screens In Atlanta“It’s important for audiences for understand the history. We’re in a moment when our history is attempted to be aggressively erased. We cover the history of how we actually acquired land, how that land was lost by various means” Click HERE

ARTS ATL (August 2023) BronzeLens Festival sharpens focus on underrepresented filmmakers, messages – “The BronzeLens Film Festival is a wonderful event to amplify the dynamic voices and stories represented in Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land. We hope viewers come away with a deepened understanding of the challenges faced by Black farmers and landowners and the importance of preserving land ownership within communities.” Click HERE

WURD RADIO (August 2023) – Black Film Festival w/ Andrea Lawful-Sanders | Eternal Polk – 8.4.23 – “Andrea Lawful-Sanders interviews director, Eternal Polk, at the Black Film Festival in Philadelphia! She talks with Eternal about his motive for creating his film, Documentary Screening Focused on Racial Injustice in America!“ Click HERE

FORBES (September 2023) – Al Roker, America’s Most Beloved Weather Man, Is Gaining Ground – “I saw this important film when it was spotlit by TribecaX with a panel conversation featuring Al, John Deere executive Mara Downing, and Gaining Ground Director Eternal Polk, where I had the pleasure of speaking with them for a few moments about the film. What was so remarkable from our brief conversation was the exemplary allyship and teamwork displayed by all involved.” Click HERE

WASHINGTON INFORMER (September 2023) – Documentary About Keeping Land Within Black Families Gives Hope – “Award-winning executive producer and director Eternal Polk assembled multiple scenarios showing how Black families can recoup land that may have been lost for various reasons. Black farmers in the United States lost nearly 90 % of their farmland during the 20th century.” Click HERE

CHICAGO CRUSADER (November 2023) – Black farmers are front and center at Black Harvest Film Festival “This is a great feature about the importance of land ownership particularly as it concerns Black farmers in America: “Land isn’t a liability, it’s an asset that can connect families. It’s not just a legal story. It’s not just an economic story. It’s a people story. It’s a family story…” – Al Roker, Executive Producer, “Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land.” Click HERE

NBC5 CHICAGO (November 2023) – Black Harvest Film Festival: A look at what’s on the screen – “LeeAnn Trotter has an inside look at what viewers can expect at this year’s Black Harvest Film Festival” Click HERE

RELATED ARTICLES (click on article title): 

THE EQUATION (October 2023) – Fighting To Help Black People – and Others – Keep their Land (guest commentary by Dr. Jennie Stephens – Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation)

INSIDER (October 2023) – After a stranger tried to take a Black family’s land, they spent 12 years in court trying to get it back (the story of the Ely Family farm with Michael Robinson)

ALBANY HERALD (Oct. 2023) Sherrod Institute event to feature award-winning film, writer Ta-Nehisi Coates-“It has long been my hope to honor those who helped us through the years fulfill our mission and get us to this day”

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