We cannot depend on government promises or pity. Our progress will come from education, ownership, and investment in each other.
Rooted by Brea Baker is an honest and revealing look at the history of land theft and displacement that stripped Black Americans of roughly ninety percent of their farmland between 1910 and 1997. Through her own family’s story in Kentucky and North Carolina, Baker highlights how systemic injustice has widened the racial wealth gap and cut off generations from the stability and freedom that come with land ownership.
Now, let me be clear. I do not agree with a lot of the content the author presents in this book. Baker strongly advocates for reparations and believes that the government should make things right by returning land and resources to Black communities. I understand where she is coming from, and although a lot of people believe that, I do not think that is going to happen, nor do I think that is the right way to move forward. She makes many valid points about injustice and inequality, but her tone gives the impression that Black people are owed something. That tone, in my opinion, will cause many people to dismiss the truths that she presents.
Still, there is a lot of value in what she uncovers. Her research reminds us that this country’s economic system was built on stolen land and stolen labor. Those are facts that cannot be ignored. But while we cannot change the past, we can shape our future.
So after reading Rooted, I began asking myself, what do we do now? We cannot undo centuries of loss and injustice, but we can take ownership of our future. We can build, buy, plant, and preserve. The same drive that fueled generations of Black farmers and entrepreneurs still lives in us today.
Here are a few things that I believe we need to realize and put into practice moving forward:
1. Realize that reparations is a myth.
Let’s be honest. We are not going to wake up one morning and see the government handing out large amounts of land or billion-dollar checks to Black Americans. It is not happening. We cannot keep waiting for someone else to fix what is broken.
2. Since it is not going to be given to us, we have to take it.
When I say “take it,” I am not talking about force or rebellion. I am talking about strategy. We have to play by the system that exists and learn how to win in it.
3. Take it by positioning ourselves to own land.
W. E. B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and other great Black leaders taught us that progress comes through education, land ownership, and economic opportunity. Those principles are timeless. They are still the foundation for upward mobility and lasting freedom.
4. Educate ourselves about land ownership.
We need to learn how to buy, maintain, and keep land legally and generationally. Too many families have lost property because they did not understand taxes, titles, or estate planning. Knowledge is power, but applied knowledge is progress.
5. Build good credit.
In today’s system, credit equals access. Most of us do not have tens of thousands of dollars sitting in the bank to buy property outright. But with good credit, we can qualify for loans, buy land, and invest in property that grows in value over time.
6. Secure steady employment or create your own.
We cannot move forward if we are just surviving. We need stable careers, advancement opportunities, and business ownership. When you own a business, strive to also own the land it sits on. McDonald’s is one of the largest landowners in the world, not just a burger company. That is the model.
7. Save money consistently.
Credit will get you started, but savings will sustain you. Whether it is for a down payment, maintenance, or improvements, financial discipline makes ownership possible. Build savings as a family value. Teach it to your children early.
8. Take care of what you own.
Once we do own property, we have to protect and improve it. Keep your home, your yard, and your neighborhood clean and safe. Pride of ownership increases property values and creates stability. Excellence should be our standard, not the exception.
9. Invest back into your community.
We cannot just move out once we “make it.” We have to reinvest with our time, our money, and our mentorship. When our neighborhoods thrive, our people thrive.
10. Black leaders and entrepreneurs must invest in the next generation.
I believe that those who have created wealth and success have a moral responsibility to look for ways to lift others up. Black leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals who have built something should be mentoring, funding, and investing in young Black men and women who are trying to do the same. We cannot depend on the government to do what we should be doing for each other. Other groups, like the Ukrainians, Filipinos, and Indians who have migrated to our country, often help their own, and we need to do the same.
11. Learn to network and build partnerships.
Since I am not a Black nationalist, I believe in learning from and working with people of all races and backgrounds. We can partner with others to build up our communities while still taking care of our own. Networking opens doors, builds bridges, and creates opportunities that we cannot find alone.
The system may not have originally been built for us, but it is open to us now, and we can learn how to build within it. The blueprint is there. The opportunities are there. It is on us to do the work. We cannot wait for permission, pity, or policy. We have to make a plan, make moves, and make progress.
Our ancestors fought to survive. Now we must fight to thrive. Build something. Own something. Teach someone. Because when we do, we honor their sacrifice, and we secure our future.
Alex Bryant is a pastor, author, and speaker who writes about race, faith, and culture in America.
