In September 2024, I had the profound honor of representing the Slow Food Movement USA at Terra Madre in Turin, Italy. As a selected delegate, I embarked on a journey that deepened my understanding of food sovereignty, cultural preservation, and the healing power of what I’m now calling “Slow Liberation.” Attending alongside other passionate advocates, I was reminded of the deep cultural relevance of “slow food” for Black people in the United States, whose traditions have long celebrated sustainable, slow-growing food practices rooted in the land.
At the event the concept of “Slow Food,” was founded by Carlo Petrini in 1986 as a response to the fast-paced, exploitative global food system, advocates for food that is good, clean, and fair. It is about preserving traditional methods, valuing food’s cultural significance, and ensuring equitable access to resources for communities worldwide. But I know the principles of Slow Food have long been embedded in the lived experiences of Black people in the USA aka Turtle Island. From subsistence farming to communal food-sharing practices, Black communities have always practiced a form of slow food, even while being disproportionately impacted by the fast-moving, capitalistic forces that exploit labor, land, and bodies.
Stepping into Italy for the first time. It was a “take history off the page” moment for me. Walking through Turin, which I would call the Detroit of Northern Italy, I couldn’t help but notice the African influences still visible today. From pockets of African descendant communities living alongside cathedrals that overlooked the city, to the echoes of the Punic Wars, Carthage, and Hannibal’s invasions of Northern Africa, history was alive in every corner.
The festival, set against the beautiful Italian Alps, felt like a tasting tour of the world. Each country proudly displayed their unique flavors in booths that created a sense of friendly competition. Of course I couldn’t help but notice that for many Italian agronomists, this was the largest opportunity to sell to international vendors and I was being “sold.” “Well, I was buying,” I brought back all types of fresh pressed pomegranate and Sicilian Rocks of Sea salt that made my suitcase weigh a ton.
But the vibrant atmosphere was underscored by tension. The delegations of Black and Brown people from around the world were greeted with open agitation by some of the local Italian workers tasked with serving them. It was a reminder that even in spaces designed to celebrate food diversity, prejudice and racism were still very much present. However, the fresh mountain air and the stunning landscape provided a peaceful backdrop to the deeper, more difficult conversations about food, equity, and justice.
As a selected member of the Slow Food Movement USA delegation, I was there to introduce the concept of “Slow Liberation,” a term I use to describe the reclamation of food systems and the pursuit of reparatory justice. Alongside Baba Ben Burkett, a cotton farmer from Mississippi, and Mallory Schott, my unexpected roommate who grows cotton in her backyard in Florida, we hosted a workshop that focused on the historical and present-day exploitation of Black and Brown communities through crops like sugar and cotton.
Mallory and I connected over an interesting conversation—she shared how, as a white woman on the board of First Coast Slow Food in Jacksonville, Florida, she was told that growing cotton in a Black neighborhood garden was “too controversial.” She opened her hand and held out the seeds she intended to share. A soft fluffy reminder of the culture clash, I didn’t know how to feel.
During the workshop, we were joined by students from Historical Black College University (HBCU) Dillard University, led by their student president, Brey. These brilliant young leaders offered solutions for Afrofuture grounded in food justice, cultural preservation, and land sovereignty. Their insights were a powerful reminder that food is a political tool—one that has been historically used to exploit, but can also be reclaimed as a means of liberation.
The session began with a drum call and libation led by Ras Kofi of Atlanta, grounding us in the presence of our ancestors. I performed my song, Baltimore Sugar, which serves as a metaphor for the journey of Black and Brown people and the inequities in sugar production—an industry built on the backs of enslaved Africans. Today, sugar is a commodity that continues to drive exploitation and our addiction to this fast food nation, especially in marginalized communities.
Ben Burkett, with his long legacy of farming cotton in Mississippi, shared stories of survival and resilience. His words were followed by Nina Simone’s Mississippi Goddam, reminding us of the ongoing struggles of Black farmers in the American South. He farmed cotton by hand until 1975. We also read Maya Angelou’s When I Think About Myself, a poignant reflection on the personal toll of systemic oppression.
One of the highlights of the workshop was our focus on Pan-African collaboration. We discussed the importance of creating intentional connections between Black and Brown farmers, both in the U.S. and across the African diaspora. The goal is to foster knowledge exchange and collective upward mobility, with an eye toward 2025, when we hope to establish stronger networks for land and food sovereignty.
Joe Barnes, another panelist, shared a touching story about his mother’s sensitivity toward growing cotton—a crop that, for many Black families, still carries the painful legacy of slavery. The Dillard University students left us with a vision for 2025—a future where Black and Brown farmers lead the charge toward food sovereignty and reparatory justice.
As I reflect on my time in Italy, I am reminded of a proud agro-engineer from Guinea Bisseau, Amílcar Cabral’s words: “Tell no lies, claim no easy victories.” The journey toward Slow Liberation is not easy, but it is necessary. Through food, we reclaim our heritage, heal generational trauma, and forge a future rooted in justice.
I invite you to join me in 2026 as we return to Terra Madre and explore the African roots of Italy and Southern Europe. Together, we will uncover the rich cultural intersections and continue the fight for Slow Liberation. Contact TAI Tours at TAItours.org@gmail.com to join me on this incredible journey of discovery and healing.
Gigs
9th Pan African Congress is Calling for YOUTH Applications Deadline April 23rd 2024, Lome Togo
www.pac9-lome2024.com
LTYC is Hiring Teaching Artist May 30th, 2024
www.ltyc.net
Academy of American Poets is Funding Deadline May 15th 2024
www.poets.org
The Hopper Prize is Funding Visual Artist Deadline May 14th 2024
www.hopperprize.org
Big Wigs
Dr. June Soomer, Chair Permanent Forum for People of African Descent
Shindigs
April 22nd Earth Day – Water is Life, Food is Sovereignty (Create Something)
Permanent Decade for People of African Descent April 16th– 19th 2024 Geneva, Switzerland
hps://indico.un.org/event/1000570/
Summit of the Future Civil Society May 8th– 10th Nairobi, Kenya
www.un.org
Love Camp Tour October 3rd– 13th Accra, Ghana East Africa
www.facebook.com/taitours1
9th Pan African Congress October 29th– Nov 2nd Lome, Togo
www.pac9-lome2024.com
8th International Conference on Art for Social Transformation, ARTIZEN Ethiopia November 8th– 12th 2022 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
www.TAITOURS.org
