About Us
The Pigford Project
The Pigford Research Project began in 2021 as a collaboration between the Institute for Economic and Racial Equity and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (LAF) and will continue through 2025. Funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the project's initial two years were dedicated to capturing the narratives and experiences of Pigford claimants and their descendants. Our aim was to understand the impact of the settlement on black farmers by conducting in-depth interviews across several states. Their interviews were then analyzed to determine whether the settlement's terms made a difference in their ability to retain their land, continue farming, and pass wealth to their children and grandchildren. As an integral part of this meaningful project, storyteller and artist Shirlette Ammons crafted the Tending podcast to further illuminate the stories and experiences of the farmers entwined in the Pigford cases.
Project Partners
The Institute for Economic and Racial Equity is a research institute that advances economic opportunity and equity for individuals and families, particularly households of color and those kept out of the economic mainstream. Grounded in a social justice tradition, our research informs strategic action for racial and economic justice to achieve an inclusive, equitable society.
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (LAF) is a 57-year-old cooperative association of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives founded by 22 cooperatives. The Federation’s mission is to be a catalyst for the development of self-supporting communities through cooperative economic development, land retention, and advocacy. We envision sustainable rural communities supported by a network of farmers, landowners, and cooperatives based on local control and ownership.