The "Black Soil" card holds deep significance, inspired by the profound efforts of communities to remember and honor victims of racial terror lynchings throughout Appalachia and beyond. This card draws from the Equal Justice Initiative's (EJI) Community Remembrance Project, a soil collection initiative that memorializes Black individuals who were brutally lynched, many of whom never saw justice served. The collected soil from these sites is placed in jars labeled with the name of the victim, the location, and the date of the lynching. Each jar is a solemn witness to the violence that Black communities endured and a symbol of their resilience.

Between 1877 and 1950, more than 4,400 African Americans were lynched across the United States, including within Appalachia. These lynchings were a brutal tool of racial terror, used to reinforce white supremacy. The soil collection project not only recognizes the pain and injustice of these acts but transforms the very earth into a historical artifact—each jar containing the stories and memories of those who suffered.

In partnership with EJI’s Memorial to Peace and Justice, this act of soil collection invites individuals to confront history, encouraging reflection, dialogue, and a call for justice. By engaging with this act of remembrance, we are reminded of the deep wounds inflicted by racial violence and how these legacies persist today.

The "Black Soil" card also connects to the mission of Black Soil KY, a Kentucky-based organization focused on reconnecting Black Kentuckians to their agricultural heritage. Black Soil KY champions Black farmers and builds awareness around the vital contributions they have made. Through programs like these, we honor the legacy of those who came before us, both through the land and the fight for racial justice. Black Soil KY empowers today’s Black farmers by connecting them with resources and consumers to sustain their agricultural livelihoods.

This card urges us to actively engage in the work of racial healing and justice. To learn more about how you can support these initiatives, visit the Equal Justice Initiative’s Community Remembrance Project and Black Soil KY, both of which play pivotal roles in preserving history and fighting for equity.