Growing Out Loud: Journey of a Food Revolutionary
Rashid Nuri's story is one of life, liberty and the pursuit of something greater than happiness - a civic agricultural system for all. From a pioneering Black man at Harvard in 1960s with an endless thirst for knowledge and meaning, to a globetrotting farmer across the planet, Nuri's Growing Out Loud takes us on his journey and reshapes our thoughts on the scale and importance of urban food systems.
Mario Cambardella, City of Atlanta Urban Agriculture Director
Growing Out Loud is a book that everyone who cares about our collective future should read and learn from. It's a fun book to read, not only documenting a highly accomplished life, but also taking an unflinching look at what is wrong with our global system of food production.
Bill Bolling, Founder, Atlanta Community Food Bank & Food Well Alliance
Rashid Nuri has, by any measure, led a remarkable life. His life has paralleled the struggles of Black and Brown people globally to break free from the physical and mental bondage of colonialism and to grapple with the difficult task of feeding their populations. His journey is unique. It crosses decades and national boundaries. He has journeyed through academia, the corporate world, temples, jazz clubs and grassroots communities.
Malik Yakini, Executive Director, Detroit Black Community Food Security Network
This is a beautiful book. So open. So vulnerable. Raw with the truth of who you are and how you have become. It is an honor to call you Brother. This is the story of how a Black Baby Boomer grew himself up to become Baba Rashid, father of many and much. He tells how he has grown people and communities and provides a blueprint for eating well, living well, and growing what is needed to make a world that is a healthy place for all people.
Kikanza Nuri-Robins, Organization Development Consultant
Growing Out Loud is a highly engaging account of one man's innate desire to make a meaningful contribution during his time on this planet. Nuri has given a beautiful testament to the power of education to open eyes, change lives and reclaim our responsibility to the Earth. An Indian saying states that we do not inherit the planet, but rather we borrow it from our children and generations to come. When we consider that civilization as we know it is 6,000 years old, the detrimental consequences of industrialization over only 200 years cannot be overstated. Rashid Nuri reminds us that our time on this planet is short. Humans need shelter, water and food for survival. The monocropping practices instilled by the industrial food production complex have had a devastating effect on the very environment that sustains humankind. Rashid's story inspires us to use that time to create powerful change that impacts our communities and our Earth home as a whole.
Dhiru Thadani, Architect & Urbanist
