Pirates on the Path to Land & Liberation
BY ZAKIYYAH ALI
The path to freedom is in unpaved territory, covered with rich, fertile, lush, black, red or sandy soils, filled with trees, birds, water and all the other elements, resources and life forms that share this globe and a desire for freedom. In order to carve out a home, many ecological, legal, social and construction-oriented steps must be taken, with many players involved in the processes. Pirates, privateers, robbers, liars and thieves line the path. Many of them have titles such as surveyors, loggers, foresters, sawmill owners, truckers and the list goes on.
One of the most treacherous processes in land development is having trees removed from one’s property. The sheer geography of the situation lends itself to c-o-n-spiracies being formed by loggers, foresters, sawmill owners and truckers who operate with their backs toward landowners, shielding their double dealing and half-truths. Must one truly have their own team of professionals to avoid being taken to the sawmill by unscrupulous dealers operating with good-ol-boy standards of secrecy, even if they don’t have full membership in the ol-boys’ club? The answer is yes. As a people, we have to enter every industry that impacts our lives.
On virgin land, homesteading in the rural area, the novice landowner may at first only see the forest. The trees that make up the forest must be evaluated for their health and suitability for building on the land or being sold to become various lumber products. What kind of wood? Hard, soft, in between? Are the trees suffering from the effects of drought, erosion, predatory insects or disease? What size trees are on the land? What is the market rate for wood? How much can one reasonably expect to receive from the sale of trees to the sawmill? To minimize the landowner’s exposure to piracy, it’s best not to rush the process.
Get at least three estimates from each of the types of pirates—I mean professionals—involved in the process. The forester is supposed to be the landowner’s firewall and representative to the others. One thing to know about foresters: they know how to do controlled burns, so … watch your back. Get evaluations of the condition of your trees and what you can expect to fetch at market from at least three foresters.
Have at least three loggers look at your land and estimate the market value of your trees, when they can get started and how long it will take for them to do the work. How much equipment and staff do they have? Will they all be onsite? Do they work at night? [Shaking my head]. Do they work when it’s raining? What reports will they provide along the way, about the number of trips to the sawmill(s) and number of loads of various qualities of wood? And, oh yes, how many sawmills do they utilize? What are the names and locations of the mills they use? Whose name will be on the receipts from the mill—theirs or the property owner’s? Is the trucker part of the logger’s team, or do they have to be paid separately?
Check with the mills directly to find out their current prices for various types and qualities of wood. Good luck getting a straight answer.
You need to know that, when you ask questions that concern your land, business and money, many of these professionals will be offended. You’re supposed to let them show up on your land in the middle of the night and start cutting down trees without concern about whether or not you’re being robbed. Especially if you’re a woman, and a Black woman at that. Just let the big men who know what they’re doing handle things. No-no.
Land, liberation and legacy must be family/community/group endeavors. Many hands, eyes and minds make light work, attending to the hands, eyes and minds that may be working against you. As a people seeking land and liberation, we must—without fail--check the processes along the way, which have systematically barred and excluded Black folks. Full liberation and self-sufficiency require that we educate ourselves in every area that touches our lives. Knowing all the steps, departments and systems is ongoing.
How many Black sawmills, how many Black logging companies, how many Black truckers? Of the Black foresters, logging companies, truckers and sawmills, which ones operate with integrity? Do we have a book or listing of them? Do we have any records, business references or records of them? How do we arbitrate disputes? Land and Liberation are not just spaces for peace, security and tranquility. Land and liberation require high levels of vigilance, productivity and willingness to do-it-yourself.
History has shown us that we as Black folk have overcome incredible odds and triumphed over and over. Keep in mind—the path was not paved with gold. It wasn’t paved at all. It was covered in trees, brush or sand, and we did what it took to continue moving forward and paving the path as we went. We can and we will continue to do so. Pirates—watch out. We’re coming.