An intersectional analysis of Black women’s experiences with agriculture in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA)

Urban farms and gardens provide critical economic, social, and environmental benefits, yet they remain shaped by historical and systemic inequities that disproportionately disadvantage Black women agriculturalists. This article examines how long-standing racialized land dispossession, discriminatory policies, and exclusion from financial and institutional support continue to restrict Black women’s access to land and agricultural resources in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). Using in-depth interviews and photovoice data, the study demonstrates how these systemic barriers, rooted in historical racial discrimination and reinforced through contemporary urban agriculture policies, undermine Black women’s ability to sustain viable farming operations. Findings demonstrate that while Black women actively engage in urban agriculture, they remain marginalized within the sector, lacking the same access to land tenure, financial capital, and training opportunities afforded to white growers. These findings build on Black feminist thought, illustrating the systemic and interconnected nature of inequity and discrimination in urban agriculture. The research also contributes to the growing field of intersectional agriculture by centering the voices and experiences of Black women agriculturalists and emphasizing the urgent need for equity-focused policies and practices that address systemic barriers while fostering community resilience and empowerment. This study underscores the need for urban agriculture to be understood as a land justice issue, advocating for policies that confront racialized land dispossession, counteract gentrification-induced displacement, and provide targeted financial and structural support for Black women agriculturalists to ensure sustainable and just urban food systems.