two days ago i went on a work trip to a lettuce farm. it was arranged by the salad bar i’ve been working at with the purpose of us understanding better, and thus selling better, the journey of our produce: from the land to our biodegradable bowls. a few minutes in, as the white australian men who manage the farm gave us a tour, the racialised dynamics of the place starkly stood out. in the factory, i watched asian aunties tirelessly pack up broccoli, whilst in the fields a group of black men speedily chopped up lettuce after lettuce. we found out the latter were workers from the pacific islands of vanuatu here on a six-month seasonal worker visa, residing in three houses nearby. “we take good care of them,” proudly said the manager, “although they do love a drink” he proceeded to say cackling; i cringed but cowardly stayed quiet.
on social justice
on social justice
on social justice
two days ago i went on a work trip to a lettuce farm. it was arranged by the salad bar i’ve been working at with the purpose of us understanding better, and thus selling better, the journey of our produce: from the land to our biodegradable bowls. a few minutes in, as the white australian men who manage the farm gave us a tour, the racialised dynamics of the place starkly stood out. in the factory, i watched asian aunties tirelessly pack up broccoli, whilst in the fields a group of black men speedily chopped up lettuce after lettuce. we found out the latter were workers from the pacific islands of vanuatu here on a six-month seasonal worker visa, residing in three houses nearby. “we take good care of them,” proudly said the manager, “although they do love a drink” he proceeded to say cackling; i cringed but cowardly stayed quiet.