Food Security vs. Food Sovereignty: A Qualitative Analysis of Food Justice Narratives and Activist Identities Among Community Gardeners in Atlanta Open Access

Abbate, Andrea Denise (2017)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/3n204013c?locale=en
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Abstract

This paper demonstrates the exclusionary practices of Alternative Food Institutions (AFIs) embedded in white systems of power. I explore whiteness in one dimension of AFIs--community gardens--and offer theoretical interventions and social movement strategies to dismantle racial barriers within the alternative food movement. It draws on in-depth interviews from three kinds of members of community gardens--plot holders, volunteers, and employees--to illustrate the range in narratives surrounding food justice as well as perceptions of food justice activism. The ways in which these discourses contrast with current research trends may have a significant effect on determining how future research on food justice is conducted. Broader conceptualizations of food justice in regards to both food security and food sovereignty could help community gardeners recognize structural racism and shape future anti-racist practices within AFIs. Further research should examine whether such contrasting discourses occur in other social movement contexts in order to study activism from a more holistic approach.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................................... 1

Alternative Food Institutions: Definitions................................................................................ 4

Community Gardens as White Spaces....................................................................................... 8

The Forgotten History of Community Food............................................................................ 11

Theoretical Interventions to Reduce Racial Barriers in Community Gardens.................. 13

AFIs as Potential Spaces for the formation of Activist Identities......................................... 15

AFIs, Activism, and Race: Relevancy in Atlanta..................................................................... 19

Methods........................................................................................................................................ 21

FINDINGS................................................................................................................................... 24

Food Justice Narratives.............................................................................................................. 24

Charity Narrative.............................................................................................................................................................................. 25

Educational Narrative..................................................................................................................................................................... 26

Empowerment Narrative.............................................................................................................................................................. 27

Different Narratives Across Role Categories................................................................................ 29

Plot Holders.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 29

Volunteers............................................................................................................................................................................................... 30

Employees.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 31

Food Justice Activist Identities Linked to Narratives................................................................... 32

Discussion................................................................................................................................... 35

Table 1: Role Category and Food Justice Narratives............................................................. 42

Table 2: Role Category and Activist Identities....................................................................... 43

References................................................................................................................................... 44

Appendices................................................................................................................................... 48

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