Examining the African-American Perception of Agriculture: Views of Students Attending an 1862 Land-grant Institution

Abstract

Shortly after the Civil War, the numbers of African Americans involved in agriculture began to dwindle. Although recently an increase has occurred in African-American farmers in the United States, the overall numbers are low. This phenomenological qualitative study examined the lived experiences among nine African-American students choosing to pursue an agricultural-related degree at an 1862 land-grant institution, Oklahoma State University. Individual interviews were conducted, and each participant was asked about their experiences related to being an African American studying agriculture today. The drive to diversify the agriculture industry is becoming more important and this study peered into the lives of students who made the decision to enter this industry and documents their experiences and influences. Six themes were found during this study, which showed the perceptions and thoughts of the nine participants. Overall, the participants' experiences while involved in agriculture revealed how African-American history has affected the number of African Americans pursuing careers in agriculture today. The results also opened up many new areas where research can be conducted to help promote diversity in agriculture. Learning the motivations of the African-American students choosing agricultural-related majors helped expose layers of nuance and complexity comprising this phenomenon.