The post Op-ed: Food Security Is Urgently Needed in Black Rural Appalachia appeared first on Civil Eats.
]]>Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, I spent countless hours listening to my grandmother’s stories. She often spoke of her life in Monticello, a small town in Wayne County, deep in Appalachia. Despite the beauty of the surrounding farmland, food was often scarce. With few grocery stores, long distances between places, and unreliable transportation, my grandmother frequently relied on canned and packaged foods. Fresh produce was a rare luxury, and when it was available, it was often too expensive. The anxiety of not knowing where her next meal might come from haunted her, and her stories of hunger left a lasting impact on me.
Appalachia, a mountainous region spanning 13 states in the eastern United States, stretches from southern New York to northern Mississippi and is often associated with rural poverty, rugged landscapes, and rich cultural traditions. In Kentucky, it encompasses the state’s easternmost counties, including Wayne, one of the most economically distressed areas in the nation, where residents struggle with limited access to healthcare, education, and food.
Map of Appalachia. (Image courtesy of the Appalachian Regional Commission)
Despite a slow decline in food insecurity from 2010 to 2020, the rate in Appalachia is still 13 percent, which remains above the national average of 11.5 percent. In the central part of the region, the issue is especially persistent, with 17.5 percent of residents sometimes lacking access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle. With nearly 23 percent of Black individuals in the U.S. experiencing food insecurity, a rate almost 2.5 times higher than that of white individuals, the lack of food access especially impacts Black residents of Appalachia.
Access to grocery stores varies significantly between urban and rural areas in Appalachia. In urban Appalachian counties, residents typically have multiple grocery stores within a short distance, facilitating easier access to a variety of food options. Conversely, in rural Appalachian counties, the number of grocery stores per capita is notably lower. A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service found that in rural non-metropolitan counties, the median number of grocery stores per capita decreased by 40 percent between 1990 and 2015, highlighting a significant decline in food retail options over time.
This disparity means that rural residents often travel considerable distances to reach the nearest grocery store, a challenge exacerbated by limited transportation options and rugged terrain. As a result, many rely on convenience stores or gas stations, which typically offer fewer healthy food choices at higher prices, contributing to poorer diets and increased health risks.
“The Thompsons often had to prioritize selling their crops to earn enough to feed themselves, which sometimes led to gaps in their own diet.”
For Black residents, these physical challenges are compounded by a history of systemic racial and economic inequities. For generations, exclusionary practices like redlining, discriminatory agricultural lending, and heirs’ property laws have undermined economic opportunities for Black residents. These policies have restricted access to land ownership and farming resources, perpetuating cycles of poverty and food insecurity.
The harsh realities I was exposed to through my grandmother stayed with me as I got older—and were a driving force behind my decision to pursue a career in combatting food insecurity on a national level. At the outset of my career, I pursued a master’s degree in community and leadership development at the University of Kentucky, with a focus on hunger disparities.
During the field research I conducted between 2015 and 2017, I visited hollers (small mountain valleys) in the state’s Appalachian region to speak with residents about the challenges they faced in accessing food. On one of these trips to eastern Kentucky, I met Mr. and Mrs. Thompson (whose names I changed to protect their identities), a Black couple in their 60s.
For more than 30 years, the Thompsons had farmed on 20 acres, growing tomatoes, green beans, and squash—basic crops meant to provide food for themselves and the local community. But with the nearest market 40 miles away, it was nearly impossible to sell their produce there consistently. And without cold storage facilities, much of their harvest spoiled before it could even leave the farm. The Thompsons often had to prioritize selling their crops to earn enough to feed themselves, which sometimes led to gaps in their own diet.
Sitting with them over a meal, I listened as they described the challenges they faced—including having to decide whether to pay for groceries or heat their home and witnessing children in their community going to bed hungry. Their resilience was palpable, but so was the ongoing struggle, and hearing them describe so many of the same issues my grandmother faced, I became convinced of the need for focused and effective interventions.
Talking with the Thompsons and others like them, I came to realize the extent to which food insecurity in Black Appalachian communities has been overlooked by policymakers and organizations at all levels.
A Playbook for Combatting Food Insecurity in Black Rural Appalachia
As the head of the Food Security Equity Impact Fund at Feeding America, a network of more than 200 food banks across the U.S., from 2022 to 2024, I managed $30 million in grant funding aimed at combating food insecurity. I channeled resources both into increasing food access and empowering communities to build their own sustainable sources of food production—funding sustainable agricultural initiatives by Black and Indigenous farmers, for example.
As a result of this work, partnerships with more than 35 food banks across the nation supported more than 75 Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities. These efforts and others enabled farmers to purchase land, increased residents’ access to fresh nutritious produce, and empowered individuals to take on community leadership roles.
Now, as president of the health-equity-focused Root Cause Coalition and assistant professor with the Global Food Institute at George Washington University, my work includes partnering with community organizations, supporting food policy councils, and driving advocacy efforts for stronger federal policies that bolster food access.
“Rural residents often travel considerable distances to reach the nearest grocery store, a challenge exacerbated by limited transportation options and rugged terrain.”
Throughout my career, I’ve encountered arguments that suggest the free market can solve food insecurity through competition and innovation. While the market certainly has a role to play, my experiences have shown me it’s not enough.
Food insecurity is a complex, deeply rooted issue that requires a holistic approach. It needs targeted, sustained investment to tackle both racial and regional disparities. We need to focus both on food production and distribution, addressing both immediate needs and long-term solutions. And we need community-driven solutions informed by those most affected, as well as increased government intervention to ensure equitable resource dispensation. It is only through this integrated approach that we can create a food system where nutritious food is accessible to all, and where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
With Donald Trump preparing to assume power, vulnerable populations may encounter even greater challenges than before, and addressing food insecurity among Black communities in rural Appalachia is more essential now than ever.
Together, here is what local, state, and federal individuals and organizations can do have an impact on the problem:
Support Rural Sustainable Agriculture Initiatives
To empower Black farmers and promote sustainable agriculture that can feed surrounding communities, we must provide both financial resources and technical support tailored to the farmers’ unique needs. Programs like Accelerating Appalachia’s “Building Soil Building Equity” (BSBE) program, which launched in 2023 with a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), have begun laying the groundwork.
This initiative focuses on supporting regenerative agriculture techniques that enhance soil health and create more resilient local food systems. Expanding models like BSBE across Appalachia is critical. This includes increasing access to grants, low-interest loans, and technical assistance for Black farmers who often face challenges accessing traditional funding. Additionally, integrating cold storage and processing facilities closer to farms can help prevent crop spoilage and enable farmers to distribute fresh produce to markets more effectively, ensuring both economic stability and greater food access.
Expand Food Assistance Programs
Establishing more community food pantries, mobile markets, and farmer’s markets in rural Appalachian counties can provide immediate relief to households experiencing food insecurity. These initiatives should prioritize fresh produce from local farmers, including Black farmers, to both support the local economy and increase access to nutritious food.
At the national level, increased funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is essential. Benefits should be adjusted for inflation, and expanded eligibility should be considered for rural households that may not meet traditional income thresholds but still struggle with food access. Implementing SNAP incentives like “Double Up Food Bucks,” which adds matching SNAP dollars for purchases of fresh produce, can encourage healthier eating while supporting local agriculture.
Foster Community-Based Solutions
Creating Rural Food Policy Councils (FPCs) in Appalachia can facilitate localized solutions that address specific barriers to food access, such as food deserts, limited nutrition education, and food waste. These councils can include diverse stakeholders, including Black farmers, community leaders, health professionals, and local government representatives to create policies that reflect the needs of the community. They can also develop comprehensive food action plans that incorporate equitable land use, farm-to-school programs, and food recovery initiatives that redirect surplus food to those in need.
The urgency of these initiatives has only intensified following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The storm not only damaged infrastructure and disrupted supply chains but also worsened food insecurity in affected areas, deepening the need for resilient, community-driven support systems.
Supporting grassroots food-justice movements, which advocate for systemic changes in food access and land equity, is equally crucial. This includes funding for community-driven projects, leadership training, and capacity building to ensure these movements can sustain their efforts and bring about long-term change.
Outlast Political Shifts
Confronting food insecurity in Appalachia is not just a matter of policy; it’s a matter of justice. Imagine the difference it could make for people like my grandmother, who once faced anxiety over each meal, or for the Thompsons, whose fresh produce often spoils due to limited market access. With targeted investments in local agriculture, expanded food assistance, and community-driven solutions, we can shift from short-term fixes to long-lasting change. We can ensure that families in Wayne County and other parts of Appalachia no longer have to choose between selling crops to make ends meet or having enough to eat themselves.
Crucial programs like SNAP and agricultural assistance—which have been lifelines for those in rural and underserved communities, helping them to survive in an already challenging landscape—face potential cuts under the new administration. Reducing or removing these resources would deepen existing disparities, making it even harder for families to achieve basic food security.
True food justice means that policies, resources, and support reach those who need them most, regardless of political winds. With strategic, inclusive efforts, we can create a food system that uplifts all people, ensuring that Appalachia’s families, farms, and communities are no longer left behind but are instead at the forefront of our nation’s progress.
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]]>The post From Civil Rights to Food Justice, Jim Embry Reflects on a Life of Creative Resistance appeared first on Civil Eats.
]]>Jim Embry sees tending to land as a sacred and spiritual responsibility. The food systems advocate, land steward, and beekeeper came of age during the civil rights movement in Kentucky and has spent five decades working for social and racial justice.
In 1972, he founded the Good Foods Co-op in Lexington. Then, in 2001, at a pivotal point of his life, Embry moved to the heart of Detroit, assuming the role of director at the Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership, where he began integrating his work for social justice into the effort to bring nutritious food to underserved communities.
This move marked the culmination of 30 years of political collaboration with luminaries Jimmy and Grace Lee Boggs. Embry’s focus on urban agriculture and food justice in Detroit drew a global audience, where he hosted audiences include the British Parliament, the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, and distinguished personalities such as Danny Glover, David Korten, and Joanna Macy.
“I have developed a worldview that enlarged my concern for all the human and non-human people: the plant people, the animal people, the water people, the air people, the rock people, the fire people. These are all our relatives, and we are all children of the Earth.”
Embry returned to his home state of Kentucky in 2006, and founded the Sustainable Communities Network (SCN), a nonprofit that connects and supports a variety of entities in a larger effort to build justice in the local food system. SCN works with nonprofits and schools in the region to integrate farming and food production into their work and advocates for local policy that supports school gardens, urban farms, and community gardens and helps get fresh produce to food insecure residents. He is also part of the Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance, a Black- and Indigenous-led organization with a focus on African and African American crops.
Since then, he has traveled and spoken extensively, including trips to the World Social Forum in Brazil and to Terra Madre, the International Slow Food Gathering in Italy. Embry now lives alongside his cousin in Richmond, Kentucky, on the 30-acre Ballew Farm, named after his great uncle Atrus, who died at age 100. In June 2023, Embry received a James Beard Leadership Award that recognized his many years of leadership within the justice food and food sovereignty movements.
Embry strives to balance community activism and writing with “soil activism,” embodying the essence of a life dedicated to weaving harmony between humanity and the natural world. His ethos extends beyond human boundaries; he sees himself as “stardust condensed in human form, collaborating with kindred spirits to foster beloved communities where every being, from human to water, air, rock, animal, and plant, is held in sacred regard.”
Civil Eats recently sat down with Embry to talk about his farm, his family’s agrarian history, and how he approaches his current role as an elder in the food system.
Drawing from your experiences as an activist, farmer, and social justice leader, how have historical events influenced and shaped your passion for the social justice movement?
I’ve been a participant in all the social justice movements for the past 65 years. In 1959, when I was a 10-year-old, I was a member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). My mother was the local chapter president.
Those years of activism inspired me to develop a worldview that moves beyond 45, 90, and 180 degrees and approaches 360. My involvement in social justice movements encompasses all forms of oppression that humans are subject to. But I have also developed a worldview that enlarged my concern for all the human and non-human people: the plant people, the animal people, the water people, the air people, the rock people, the fire people. These are all our relatives, and we are all children of the Earth.
As a social justice activist and organizer, I have not only participated in historical events, but I have also helped to plan and organize historical events. One case in point is the 1964 March on Frankfort, Kentucky, led by Dr. King and Jackie Robinson. As a president of the state youth chapter for the NAACP, my role was to travel around Kentucky and organize other young folks to attend the march, which attracted 10,000 people. I have gone on in my life to help organize probably 30 or 40 large events, have helped found 30 to 40 organizations, and I have never felt like dropping out.
One very important historical moment that influenced my journey was attending Dr. King’s funeral in 1968. It was here that I met Ernie Greene, well known for his involvement in the Little Rock school integration effort. He invited me to spend the summer in New York City in 1968 working construction. It seemed like the whole world was in New York City. There were people there from all over the world, interacting together. It was there that I was exposed to questions around food justice, food apartheid, food access, and the racism within the food and agricultural system.
Can you share the driving force behind your commitment to activism and the social justice movement, particularly in the context of fostering a more socially and environmentally sustainable world?
I grew up with a closeness to the land because of my upbringing in Madison County, which sits at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, is fed by the Kentucky River watershed, and is nourished by soil heavy mineralized in limestone rock.
My grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins were all small farmers. So, my family culture was a culture of people connected to the land. I call us agrarian intellectual activists. Everything I do has been influenced by my family legacy as small farmers.
How does your family history inform your understanding of the challenges faced by today’s small-scale farmers?
My family’s history provides me an understanding that conditions during the years of enslavement, during the period after the Civil War, are all connected to what is happening today. The conditions that we faced after the Civil War were not resolved towards justice and are thus still prevalent.
There were 180,000 Black men and women who fought . . . [and] brought about the Union victory, defeated the Confederacy, and reunified the country. Most all of those Black soldiers were listed as farmers for their occupation. So, it was Black farmers who saved the union. This is the history and legacy of Black farmers.
Are you still actively involved in farming?
Yes, I’m currently actively involved in farming, but in defined ways. I’m a beekeeper and I love all those momma bees that go out and gather pollen and nectar on our 15-acre pollinator conservation project as part of our 30-acre family farm. I currently [have] about 30 fruit trees with most every kind of fruit growing. And I have all kinds of berries and fig trees and a whole variety of medicinal and cooking herbs.
On our property we have two high tunnels where we’re growing an assortment of veggies. And we do host farm tours, women’s retreats, dinners, and other educational activities here. My cousin next door raises chickens and makes value-added products from elderberries, herbs, teas, and tinctures.
We have invested in mushroom logs, and we are replenishing native tree varieties while also intentionally planning additional medicinal herbs that are native to Kentucky forests. We have two ponds on the property, and they get used periodically by family members or friends to catch fish. We have adopted an organic agricultural transition plan and we are in the second year of that activity. But honestly, because of my speaking engagements, I’m away from home for about one-third of the year.
Leadership winners Ira Wallace, Savonala “Savi” Horne, Valerie Horn, and Jim Embry speak onstage at the 2023 James Beard Restaurant And Chef Awards at Lyric Opera Of Chicago on June 5, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Schear/Getty Images for The James Beard Foundation)
For most of my life, I have not been involved in farming full-time. I moved to our family farm in 2012 to help look after our aunt and uncle who were both 90 years old at the time. They were like second parents to me, and so much that I do now in the food and agriculture system is based upon their teachings.
This property that I live on now goes back to the year 1800 or so, when our ancestors were brought across the Appalachian Mountains to live here in Madison County. So, we claim ancestral stewardship of this land. We purchased it in 1889 from those folks who stole the land from Indigenous peoples.
“Each decision we make around food is a political choice. It’s an economic choice. It’s a cultural choice. It’s a spiritual choice.”
Over the years I’ve developed extensive knowledge about every aspect of the food agriculture system and recognize my role. My role as an elder is to have this systems view, to create synergy, to speak to everyone and point out that everyone has to change since everyone eats. Everyone has to change in how we relate to the food and agriculture system in our daily practice and the food choices we make.
Each decision we make around food is a political choice. It’s an economic choice. It’s a cultural choice. It’s a spiritual choice. My dear friend, Wendell Berry, who I met as a student at the University of Kentucky back in 1968, says, “Eating is an agricultural act.” This means everyone is involved in the food agricultural system. Everybody has to change.
I have spoken to presidents, peasants, university professors, preschoolers, famous actors, and to kids who are doing hip-hop, beats, and rhymes and working in some of our urban garden projects. I’ve talked to members of the Nobel Committee and kids in FFA, governors, mayors, local schoolteachers, and military veterans with missing limbs who want to farm. These are a few of the people, organizations, and institutions that I’ve been blessed to work with over the years.
What are some notable best practices and challenges you believe exist in agriculture?
If we lift up one of Albert Einstein’s famous quotes, which is, “We can’t solve today’s problems with the same way of thinking we used when we created them,” then we have to deeply examine that way of thinking. [We have] created unsustainable farming practices, damaging practices, toxic practices, practices that create injustice, health disparities, economic inequalities, loss of biodiversity, and environmental pandemics. Oftentimes, the “best practices” that emerge over time become “worst practices” and create even more problems.
“Oftentimes, the ‘best practices’ that emerge over time become ‘worst practices’ and create even more problems.”
There are many different schools of thought or different methodologies that people embrace as we do our farm work, and I have borrowed from many, but my favorite is agroecology.
Agroecology is an integrated approach that combines ecological and social principles for sustainable agriculture and food systems. It emphasizes optimizing interactions among plants, animals, humans, and the environment while fostering equitable food systems where people have a say in their food choices and production. Agroecology has evolved to include ecological, sociocultural, technological, economic, and political aspects of food systems.
The key elements of agroecology involve empowering farmers, promoting local value addition, and supporting short value chains. It enables farmers to adapt to climate change and sustainably manage natural resources and biodiversity. Agroecology stresses local knowledge, biodiversity, synergy, knowledge sharing, and economic diversification. It also focuses on fairness, connectivity, land governance, participatory learning, circular economies, and polycentric governance, serving as a science, practice set, and social movement.
How do you envision agriculture’s role in shaping our future?
Agriculture has had the biggest role in shaping human culture for the past 15,000 years. Agriculture developed some 12,000 to 15,000 years ago and was a gift to our species by women.
Agri-culture—or the growing of food through the use of seeds—allowed us to move away from being primarily hunter-gatherers. This development (and domestication of animals) gave rise to what we call modern human civilization. In my view, it is within agriculture where we have the most profound need for change, and it is within agriculture where we have the most powerful fulcrum point for social transformation of all other human institutions.
“In my view, it is within agriculture where we have the most profound need for change, and it is within agriculture where we have the most powerful fulcrum point for social transformation of all other human institutions.”
After a sharp and comprehensive critique of our prevailing and dominant worldview of agriculture, we need to develop a farming philosophy, farming practices, farming research whose primary aim is the health of the people, health of the planet, health for all other species on the Earth, and the health of the economy.
Right now, the dominant food and farming systems are used to promote profit, plunder, and have a predatory relationship with the Earth. We need a huge paradigm shift in both the philosophy and the practices of farming. That will mean changes in every aspect of the food and agriculture system from seeds to planting to production to harvest to distribution to education to marketing to eating to disposal. In the face of climate change and environmental devastation, every sector will require lots of significant changes or shifts in how we go about the work in this area.
For us to enact changes we will need to develop an integrated systems approach. But we don’t have any choice if we want to become good ancestors and leave our great-great-grandchildren an Earth of abundance.
What is your philosophy on caring for and giving back to the planet?
George Washington Carver said any injustice to the soil is injustice to the farmer. Any injustice to the farmer is injustice to the soil.
Our human quest now is to have a much more expanded view of our responsibility not just to resolving the conflicts and contradictions within the human realm but it’s also to be stewards of Earth protectors or protagonists in maintaining the sacred Earthly balance.
What advice do you have for those looking to become more involved in advocating for their communities, land, and people striving to heal, reshape, and sustain our environment?
I encourage people reading this to contact me. I invite folks to, as Bill Withers would say, use me up. I’m in my last quadrant. I’ve done all kinds of things and recognize the importance of passing on these understandings to the next generations.
Secondly, get involved in organizations; they are critical to making change. Then form study groups to discuss ideas. Get out of the U.S.; travel internationally to see the cultures, the histories of other parts of the planet. Get engaged in your community. Become a voracious reader and read books like Farming While Black by Leah Penniman, We Are Each Other’s Harvest by Natalie Baszile, Freedom Farmers by Monica White, Collective Courage by Jessica Nembhard, and the great work of Thomas Berry and Wendell Berry.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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]]>The post Op-ed: Solutions to Address Food Insecurity Facing Black Seniors appeared first on Civil Eats.
]]>I met Henrietta, a retired Washington, D.C. resident in her 60s in a meeting of the Client Leadership Council at the Capital Area Food Bank. I was there doing research for the University of the District of Columbia and I was struck by her continued advocacy around ensuring her neighbors have access to adequate and nutritious food and the infrastructure they need to create a resilient community.
Henrietta (not her real name) has a bright presence and speaks often of “opportunity,” even though she, her family, and her community are living through some of the darkest times in terms of not having the resources they needs from day to day.
She is diabetic and has been advised by her doctor to seek out vegetables, healthy proteins, and whole grains—but given her limited income, she struggles to afford those foods. Instead, she has resorted to buying Nestlé Boost, a drink designed to help her control her glucose intake. She buys a case every month and relies on it to fill the nutrition gaps in her diet.
“A lot of stuff that I need to eat, like vegetables and stuff, I don’t get it. So, at night, when I get ready to go to bed, to keep my sugar from dropping too low, I drink a Boost,” Henrietta told me.
A recent report found that Black seniors and older adults were 3.8 times and 2.5 times more likely to experience food insecurity compared to their white counterparts, respectively.
“It really makes me feel bad because I’m used to buying what I need,” she added. Now, when she goes to the store, the prices of gas and food are so high that she finds herself putting back a number of basic items—Spam, bread, eggs, milk—because they’re just not in her budget. Grocery prices have gone up and Henrietta only receives a limited amount of federal support; even with the increased support during the pandemic, she continued to face challenges accessing a balanced diet.
“A lot of time when I didn’t have any meat, I would get me a couple of eggs, and eat them [instead], but now they’re almost always what I put down,” she said.
Henrietta is just one of many Black seniors in urban areas facing similar struggles. In the kaleidoscope of modern America, where supermarkets overflow with abundance and food trends flash across social media, a disquieting truth lingers in the shadows: An alarming number of seniors can’t secure sufficient and nutritious meals.
The latest State of Senior Hunger report from the nonprofit Feeding America revealed that 5.5 million seniors (60 and up) and 3.8 million older adults (50-59) experienced food insecurity in 2021. At that time, Black seniors and older adults were 3.8 times and 2.5 times more likely to experience food insecurity compared to their white counterparts, respectively.
This isn’t just about hunger; it’s a systemic problem rooted in socioeconomic disparities, geographic limitations, and ingrained barriers. The pervasive nature of food insecurity among Black seniors demands our attention and collective action, as it underscores the depth of inequality embedded within urban landscapes. Many Black seniors find themselves trapped in food deserts with limited transportation options.
Predominantly Black neighborhoods have fewer supermarkets, leading to restricted options for fresh and nutritious foods. The consequence is a reliance on convenience stores and fast-food outlets, perpetuating a cycle of poor nutrition and health disparities. Socioeconomic factors compound the problem. Limited financial resources mean that Black seniors are often forced to choose between paying for life-saving medications and nutritious meals.
And while many of these seniors and older adults may not be visible to people outside their communities, it’s our responsibility to change the structure that allows these patterns to continue. Often, it’s easy to overlook the disparities that exist in our backyard. Here in Washington, D.C., I’ve heard from a number of seniors who don’t have cars and must travel outside Wards 7 and 8 to get decent groceries. If they don’t have friends and family members close by to assist them, getting enough healthy food can feel nearly impossible.
It’s time to break the chains of food insecurity and demand a more dignified path toward support for Black seniors. In the wake of a fast-moving world, we must take a step back to unpack the current crises to create impactful opportunities for change and other critical developments.
Larger Implications of Food Insecurity for Black Seniors
The impact of food insecurity on the health and well-being of Black seniors is profound. Inadequate nutrition is intrinsically linked to an increased susceptibility to chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Black older adults experience those illnesses—and the lower life expectancies that go along with them—at a significantly higher rate than their white counterparts.
According to the American Geriatrics Society’s Health in Aging website, the most frequent causes of death for older Black women are heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. The vicious cycle of poor health further exacerbates these women’s struggles, creating a scenario where the most vulnerable continue to experience a web of preventable health issues. Uncertainty about where the next meal will come from also has an emotional and mental toll that we cannot underestimate for seniors, often leading to anxiety and depression.
The repercussions of this crisis extend beyond individuals to permeate the fabric of society. Reduced productivity and elevated healthcare costs become the collateral damage of a population struggling to meet basic nutritional needs. The impact is not only felt in the health of our citizens but also in the economic burden borne by taxpayers. When diet-related illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity escalate, people often end up in emergency rooms and hospitals.
According to recent studies, the economic cost of treating these illnesses amounts to billions of dollars annually, placing a significant strain on public healthcare systems and taxpayer funds. Addressing the nutritional well-being of our population is not just a matter of individual health; it is a fiscal imperative for the sustainability of our healthcare infrastructure and the economic prosperity of our nation. Lawmakers must recognize the interconnectedness of these issues and respond strategically.
A Path Forward: Solutions and Initiatives
Now is the time to confront and dismantle the barriers that perpetuate food insecurity among Black seniors. We need to advocate for a shift in perspective—from viewing Black seniors as victims of circumstance to recognizing their resilience and agency and naming the racist, capitalist system that has long extracted their labor without meeting their needs. It underscores the urgency not only to address immediate food insecurity but also to rectify the systemic injustices that perpetuate inequities among Black seniors.
Now is the time to confront and dismantle the barriers that perpetuate food insecurity among Black seniors. We need to name the racist, capitalist system that extracts their labor without meeting their needs.
There are some successful community-driven programs doing this work. For example, the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research has created the Healthier Black Elders Center, which is ensuring Black seniors in the region are getting fed and working to reduce health disparities through research and education. There is a low representation of older African American adults in research and the program also aims to increase their participation.
As the echoes of the pandemic linger, the disparities among different populations of seniors are still present, exacerbated by the fact that pandemic-era assistance in now the rearview mirror. Along with rising inflation, the loss of those supports has intensified the economic challenges faced by seniors, particularly those in the Black community.
Notable organizations such as the National Council on Aging, AARP, Justice in Aging, Senior Medicare Patrol, and the Long-Term Care Community Coalition are advocating for policies that support seniors each and every day. They’re calling on lawmakers to recognize the silent struggle of Black seniors and actively engage in solutions.
If we want to ensure that Black seniors have access to the nutritious food they need, the following key actions are critical:
Increase Improvements to Quality Healthcare and Intervention Initiatives
Access to affordable long-term care services is crucial for improving health outcomes and addressing food access challenges among Black seniors. These services, empower Black seniors to maintain independence and give them control over their meals. Critical initiatives such as Food is Medicine programs and produce prescription programs are targeted strategies designed to connect healthcare institutions at the national level that will wider efforts to improve health through food. They have also been shown to improve participants’ quality of life, reduce work in hospitals, and cut healthcare costs, according to experts studying Food is Medicine efforts.
Expand SNAP and Other Federal Nutrition Programs
This would help reach the millions of older adults eligible for SNAP but not enrolled while also helping current recipients maximize the monthly assistance they receive from the program. Only three out of five older adults who are qualified end up enrolling in the SNAP program. Many others receive only the minimum benefit of $23 a month. Recently, the end of the public health emergency triggered a sharp decrease in SNAP support for millions of people. Many saw the assistance they receive drop by $250 per month. Policymakers should focus on the long-overdue adjustment in benefits to increase the minimum monthly amount for older adults on fixed incomes. This would also help alleviate financial burdens related to both healthcare and medical expenses.
Dial in Support for Nutritious Foods
In addition, federal programs should shift the focus from just ensuring food access to ensuring equitable access to nutrient-rich foods. Such an approach could have a profound impact on promoting healthy aging and reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases among Black seniors. In the long run, we need to take the new USDA-defined concept of Nutrition Security much further.
I was raised in a family of resilient Black seniors; in my formative years I witnessed their indomitable spirit amidst profound struggles. Their daily battles with food insecurity—and the moments of quiet dignity—were embedded into the fabric of my childhood, a poignant reminder of the harsh realities faced by many in our community.
These experiences have etched in my heart the imperative to delve deeper into the intricate challenges that contribute to food insecurity among Black seniors. It goes beyond statistics; it’s about the lived experiences of those who many of us hold dear. Let us use our collective empathy and determination to propel us toward meaningful, sustainable solutions.
As a food justice advocate, I want to see today’s Black seniors break the chains of food insecurity—not just for themselves but for every grandparent, aunt, and uncle who has weathered the storm before them. The time for comprehensive, systemic change is now.
The post Op-ed: Solutions to Address Food Insecurity Facing Black Seniors appeared first on Civil Eats.
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