Africulture is a course under the University of Virginia environmental thought and practice major. Led by a practicing farmer-Michael Carter Jr. of Carter Farms and His non profit Africulture, we examine how principles, practices, plants and people of African descent have shaped US agriculture, and thus, the lives of all Americans. By examining a wide range of history, laws, attitudes, cultures and traditions, we explore and discuss how many US staple commodities and practices have their roots in Africa and observe cultural similarities between indigenous cultures around the world. While evaluating realities of today’s Black farmers and the innovations they devise to survive in a system stacked against them. Students study, research and explore for solutions to an array of challenges in environmental and agricultural sciences faced by today’s Black and local farmers.
