Many of his films have addressed the systemic issues in our world, and his current film is no exception. His most recent feature film, “ The Returning looks at [the] burgeoning movement of Black Farmers returning to the land. Young African Americans, many with direct lineages to slavery, have been traumatized and culturally brainwashed to believe that farming is an undignified return to the scene of the original
policies to end discrimination within the USDA, protect remaining Black farmers from losing their land, provide land grants to create a new generation of Black farmers, and restore the land base that has been lost, and implement systemic reforms to help family farmers across the United States.” Decena is currently in New York filming the documentary, even after their main funder
crime—slavery.” “But a growing number, disillusioned by lack of opportunity, environmental racism, and diet- related chronic illnesses, are seeing that reconnecting to land and the rich agricultural history of African descendancy is a source of dignity and power. They are called the Returning Generation—to land, justice and independence. Our main character, Leah Penniman, who wrote the book Farming While Black , is at the perfect intersection of racial justice, food sovereignty and solutions to the climate crisis.”
dropped out just before the three- week shoot. While they were able to raise funds for that part of production, they are still relying on donations to complete the film. “It will be a combination of foundation support, possible production partnerships, and well-resourced individuals who believe the story seen by a wide audience.” You can donate to the documentary’s production fund on their website. No matter the project, Decena and Kontent Films of a returning generation of Black farmers needs to be
continue to inspire positive change through the stories they tell. At the end of the day, “since my first film was a narrative love story, I now realize all of my documentary films are love stories too. [For The Returning ] my challenge will be, as always, to have you fall in love with Leah, her family and Soul Fire Farm, so her bad-ass self can blow you over with her presence, mad knowledge, and love for the land. I believe it is through love that we can uncover truths, create empathy, and inspire action.”
The documentary is particularly poignant to make now as it coincides with the introduction of a new congressional bill called The Justice for Black Farmers Act, which if successful, will be incorporated into the upcoming revisions to the United States Farm Bill in 2023. The Farm Bill regulates the agricultural industry and receives policy updates only twice per decade. The Act was co-created by Senator Cory Booker and Senator Elizabeth Warren and it aims to “enact
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