In a powerful resurgence of cultural identity and community strength, Black and Indigenous people across the United States are establishing intentional communities to safeguard their ancestral practices and impart them to future generations. From California to Alabama, these groups are creating spaces rooted in care, tradition, and a deep connection to the land.
Building Community Through Shared Values
Intentional communities, defined as groups living in close proximity with aligned values and shared visions, are not a new phenomenon. Historically, Black Americans and Indigenous peoples have formed these tight-knit circles to foster resilience against societal challenges. These communities often manifest as ecovillages in rural areas or co-housing in urban settings, where residents prioritise communal governance and resource sharing.
The concept has gained renewed traction as individuals seek ways to reconnect with their agricultural roots and ecological wisdom. For instance, the Black to the Land ecovillage in Boonville, California, serves as a beacon of this movement. Founded by Zappa Montag and his daughter, Bibi Sarai, the community emerged from a desire to combat the gentrification they witnessed in Oakland. “We aimed to create a healing space surrounded by nature for Black people,” Montag reflects.
The Journey of Black to the Land
Established in 2020, Black to the Land is not merely a residential community; it’s a living testament to the notion of reparative stewardship. After acquiring land from the Emerald Earth Sanctuary, the group has embraced a vision of ecological sustainability through communal living. In the wake of personal tragedy—Bibi Sarai’s untimely death—Montag found renewed purpose in continuing their shared dream, realising the profound impact the land had on the mental well-being of its visitors.
The community, which comprises individuals aged 20 to 50, engages in various activities including gardening, building workshops, and traditional herbal medicine practices. By participating in communal chores and resource pooling, members foster a sense of independence while building a supportive environment. “We want to be able to be independent or self-reliant,” Montag asserts, highlighting the precariousness of contemporary life.
A Broader Movement Towards Healing
The Bipoc Intentional Community Council has noted a burgeoning “back-to-the-land” movement, encouraging people of colour to explore rural communal living as a way to reconnect with their heritage. Unlike the predominantly white intentional communities that often overlook the cultural nuances of Black and brown people, these emerging groups strive to honour ancestral traditions. Crystal Byrd Farmer, a board member of the council, explains, “We’re trying to navigate the capitalist maze to recreate a sense of home and community that values us.”
In Alabama, the Ekvn-Yefolecv ecovillage represents a paradigm of this return to roots. Founded by the Indigenous Maskoke people, the community fosters a matriarchal governance structure and revitalises ancestral language and practices. “Instead of changing our language to fit into the environmentally destructive ideologies of capitalism, we needed to recreate a society where our language thrived,” co-founder Marcus Briggs-Cloud states.
The Resurgence of Cultural Practices
In Massachusetts, the Solidarity Arts & Education Decolonial Initiatives (SAEDi) collective also exemplifies this trend. This home, managed by women of colour and their families, serves as a nurturing environment for creativity and community support. Each member contributes according to their means, sharing responsibilities from childcare to food preparation. “We don’t pretend as though things are equal,” admits K Melchor Quick Hall, the founder of the collective, emphasising the importance of acknowledging disparities while working collaboratively.
The roots of modern intentional living within Black communities can be traced back to the civil rights movement, with the establishment of New Communities in Albany, Georgia, in 1969. Founded by civil rights leaders, this pioneering community aimed to secure land for Black sharecroppers displaced by their quest for voting rights. Although they faced numerous challenges, including governmental obstruction, their legacy inspires current movements for community autonomy and land trust initiatives.
Why it Matters
The rise of intentional communities among Black and Indigenous peoples signifies more than just a desire for communal living; it’s a vital response to systemic oppression and cultural erasure. These spaces provide not only a refuge from societal pressures but also a framework for healing and empowerment. By reclaiming their narratives and fostering intergenerational knowledge, these communities offer a transformative model for resilience and sustainability that can inspire similar movements across the globe. In a world increasingly fraught with division, the flourishing of these intentional communities serves as a reminder of the power of solidarity, heritage, and the profound connection to the land.
