In a special edition of Rootwork on KPFK, Thandi Chimurenga of Black Liberation Media sat down with Kali Akuno of Cooperation Jackson to explore bold strategies for grassroots survival and resistance. Part of the ongoing “Build and Fight Formula” series, the conversation unpacked the urgency of food sovereignty, mutual aid, and community-based power in the face of mounting economic and political instability.
“We’ve been warning that hard times were coming—and now they’re here,” said Akuno, co-founder of the Jackson, Mississippi-based organization. The conversation centered on how capitalism weaponizes food, land, and trade, especially under what Akuno dubbed “Trumpflation”—a fusion of inflation, nationalist economic policy, and neoliberal collapse.
Akuno stressed that food is not scarce—it’s withheld. “The U.S. produces and throws away more food than most countries consume,” he said. “It’s not about supply, but control.” Referencing historic famines in India and Ireland, and the burning of surplus crops during the Dust Bowl era, he pointed to the deliberate commodification of food as a tool of domination.
At the heart of the “Build and Fight Formula” is food sovereignty—the ability for communities to produce what they need, free from corporate or state dependence. Akuno advocates for agroecological practices rooted in Afro-Indigenous traditions, rather than extractive industrial farming. “We’re talking about production that heals the land, nourishes our people, and builds self-reliance.”
But production requires land. Akuno challenged listeners to decommodify it: transform lawns into gardens, repurpose churches and vacant lots, and pressure local governments to turn over abandoned spaces for community use. “Make every yard a farm, every garage a factory,” he urged.
Chimurenga echoed the call, noting the vast number of unused properties in cities like Los Angeles and Detroit. “If it’s sitting empty in our neighborhood and not serving the people, we should be able to reclaim it.”
The conversation also touched on broader geopolitical threats, including rising tensions with China and the risk of war. Akuno warned that trade wars often precede military ones. “We must prepare—not just physically but politically—for what’s ahead,” he said.
Ultimately, the message was clear: local action must scale into collective power. “Don’t rely on the Democrats. Don’t wait for permission,” Akuno said. “We need autonomous movements that federate, build solidarity, and confront the forces of capital and the state.”
The series continues with future sessions focused on land access, political organizing, and creating sustainable infrastructure.
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.