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'Ruin their Crops on the Ground' tracks the history and politics of food in the U.S.
Sep 2, 2024
Andrea Freeman, an author diving into food policy and societal control, joins NPR journalist Ayesha Rascoe to discuss the darker aspects of American food history. They explore how government orders, like George Washington's to destroy Indigenous food sources, reveal a long tradition of using food for oppression. Freeman highlights the politics behind nutrition campaigns, such as the promotion of milk, and discusses ongoing health disparities affecting marginalized communities. Their conversation unveils the complex relationship between food, power, and culture in America.
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Quick takeaways
- The U.S. government has historically manipulated food policies as a tool for political control and oppression, especially against marginalized groups.
- Despite the promotion of certain foods like milk, health disparities persist due to inequitable access and corporate interests overshadowing community needs.
Deep dives
The Political Control of Food
Food has often been utilized as a means of political and economic control throughout American history. The U.S. government’s actions, from the slaughter of bison to limit Indigenous access to resources, illustrate a pattern of using food to subjugate marginalized communities. This historical approach extended to the Freedmen's Bureau during the post-emancipation era, where initially intended food rations were cut off to force formerly enslaved people back into labor on plantations. Such practices have contributed to ongoing health disparities, as the cycle of poverty and poor nutrition remains linked to historical food policies.
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