Reflections on cheese, farming, and discrimination
Over the past few weeks business have been sending out emails voicing their support for the Black Lives Matters movement. I support these businesses's words and pledges. Black lives matter.
As I've watched these emails hit my inbox I've been mulling over how to best support the anti-racism movement. Today, it's through sharing some things I've learned.
If you don't work in the cheese industry you might not know that it happens to be very, very white. To date, I can’t name a single black-owned cheesemaking company or cheese shop owner in the country. Though there are many reasons one might point out to explain the mainly white industry, like high rates of lactose intolerance in the black community, much of it is still because of systemic racism. Sometimes on the part of the cheese industry, and sometimes beyond that.
One example of discrimination that deters entry into the cheese and food industry is how hard it is to own and keep a farm if you are person of color. Opening a creamery on top of that is even more difficult!
Because I think a huge part of transforming our society into one where all community members can flourish is through education, I wanted to share a few articles that have helped me understand discrimination in our food and farming industry better. I thought you may find these readings helpful, too.
Here are a few just to get started.