Hand Changes

Virginia’s eastern shore offers a comprehensive picture of how economic and political events have shaped the farm labor supply in the American South for 400 years. Examining the region’s tradition of using indentured servants, African slaves and, most recently, black and Latino migrant farmworkers, Hand Changes explores the issues of housing, food, health, and workers’ rights. It also illustrates how the global agricultural economy and trade agreements such as NAFTA influence social structure and the racial composition of communities.