Talking about race and cotton has always had some uncomfortable realities in the U.S. with the history of slavery. But some black cotton farmers are changing the look of the cotton industry and of the fabric for some members of the community. I am here for it!
I’ve written about some before, but thought with black history month and a recent big story on ABC News, I really had to put something here on the site.
Julius Tillery aka Black Cotton U.S.
For years, I’ve known Julius Tillery — you may remember this article about Black Cotton U.S. from back in the day.
ABC News ran a great piece on Julius recently and the interview includes some of the pieces about the recognition that there is some healing to do in the black community because of the deep pain associated with cotton in the past.
Not only is Julius clearly, and outwardly acknowledging that history, but he is also sharing his entrepreneurial journey to success which includes his family’s small farm. He has found the connections to history also empowering at times. And having seen other family members speak to the business, I know there are generations proud of Julius.
Bridgeforth Cotton
There is a farm in northern Alabama that has been owned and operated by the Bridgeforth family since the 1800s! Having had a chance to talk with Bill Bridgeforth and some of the other members of the family, it’s clear that black cotton farmers have no doubt faced more challenges than their white neighbors.
The Bridgeforths knew and worked alongside names that stand out in history including working at Tuskegee Institute with Booker T Washington and George Washington Carver! You really should read some of their family history & accomplishments.
But you also should see what they are doing now cause they have done some cool things like provide cotton for the black history month shirts at Target and the like! Now they even have a direct farm brand of t-shirts, etc.
Shun Binford aka Bearded Farmer
Going to confess, I hadn’t met Shun til a few years ago. Caught a video of him somewhere and had to track his channels down. He’s further south in Alabama, but does a good job of showing people the ins and out of the work he does.
And he usually puts it in the terms of #socksanddraws.
@beardedfarmer_5minmil #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #socksndraws #cotton #fyp ♬ original sound – Bearded Farmer
Like a lot of farmers, Shun likes equipment and does a LOT OF WORK cleaning, maintaining and when needed, fixing equipment. He’s always got something to talk about.
