In this second episode of Tending, Shirlette Ammons travels to Georgia, where she meets two Black farmers whose stories illustrate the emotional and physical toll of fighting the USDA’s discrimination.
Top photo: RESORA is a 1,638-acre retreat and conference center located in Albany, Georgia. The land, formerly part of a plantation, was purchased by New Communities, a grassroots organization founded in the 60s by the late Rev. Charles and Shirley Sherrod, both frontline civil rights warriors. They created a legacy that continues to empower Black families in Southwest Georgia and advocates for social justice through agribusiness and economic development.
About Tending
Hosted by award-winning musician and documentary producer Shirlette Ammons, Tending is a six-part narrative series that explores the ongoing struggles of Black farmers through the lens of Pigford v. Glickman—once the largest civil rights class-action lawsuit in U.S. history. Ammons—an eastern North Carolina native with deep farming roots—travels across seven Southern states to meet Pigford claimants and their descendants. Their stories paint a vivid picture of injustice and an ongoing fight for restitution.
Visit the Tending website here to learn more.
About Shirlette Ammons
Accomplished musician, documentary producer, and most importantly the granddaughter of a Black farmer from Eastern North Carolina, Shirlette Ammons has worked on the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning A Chef’s Life, Somewhere South, and May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story. Her 2024 self-released album SPECTACLES was named one of the year’s best by NPR’s Sound Opinions. More about Shirlette’s work is available at www.shirletteammons.com.
