Cows Quote by Fannie Lou Hamer
“[My father] did get enough money to buy mules. We didn't have tractors, but he bought mules, wagons, cultivators and some farming equipment. As soon as he bought that and decided to rent some land, because it was always better if you rent the land, but as soon as he got the mules and wagons and everything, somebody went to our trough - a white man who didn't live very far from us - and he fed the mules Paris Green, put it in their food and it killed the mules and our cows.”
About This Quote
Source Oral history: 1960s activism
Economic hardship led to reliance on mules, which were sabotaged, illustrating vulnerability of small farmers.
In simple terms: Small farmers faced sabotage and loss.
Support resilient farming practices.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- rural development
- food security
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards protect small farmers today?
- How can communities rebuild after loss?
Systemic racism compounded economic struggles.