Occupy Memphis and Black Farmers: Odd Couple

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The mission of equality and justice for all played out in Memphis, TN this week, all part of the usual fare found on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. But, observers could not help but notice the new alliance between Occupy Memphis and the Black Farmers. Occupy Memphis protesters near the federal building in the city were met with support from the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association on Monday. Other vocal groups also showed up to back the cause. At a minimum, it was a symbolic show of force between two organizations (both loosely organized) fighting for similar rights with different approaches. Ironically, Memphis is the site of Dr. King’s assassination nearly 44 years ago. It was there that he was on a similar mission of bringing together a mixed group of sanitation workers to fight for their economic rights. The combination of the Occupy Memphis protesters and the Black farmers may initially seem like an odd match. However, the two groups are more alike than they are different. National Occupy leadership is making a concerted effort to integrate the Black community into the protests, particularly through the farmers’ link with Memphis. Critics have said since September that when the original New York protests started, the presence of African Americans was scarce despite the messaging being focused on issues that impact them the most.