5 Rules to Keep Condescension Out of ‘Kindness’
By Graham BlackwellA wise person once said you don’t have to empower people whose power hasn’t been taken from them.Several years ago, I was traveling with a dear friend in Honduras, where I had moved my family for ministry and agricultural work. I asked him about the one thing that, in his opinion, held his country back more than any other issue.I didn’t expect him to say, “Paternalism.”If this term seems unfamiliar, here’s the Merriam-Webster definition:Paternalism: “A system under which an authority undertakes to supply needs or regulate conduct of those under its control in matters affecting them as individuals as well as in their relations to authority and to each other.”The minute he said it, I knew I was guilty. Here I was, living in his country, presuming I knew more and knew best. So, I started wondering if there was a different way to conduct community development work—something like “our way.” What if trade—quality trade and not pity deals or goofy, exploitive certifications—could solve the problem?So, the Kingdom Growers Company, based in the United States, has developed rules for working with farmers in Honduras and other countries.
- Throw out the concept of ownership. We do not own any farms. We don’t own any farmers either. They are not “our” farmers. They are partners.
- Don’t dictate price. We negotiate. Kingdom Growers relies on profits to survive. We have employees. We have to keep the lights on. Why would we expect any less from the farms with which we partner? Do their lights not need to stay on? The strategy at Kingdom Growers is to negotiate a fair and profitable price for everyone with no strings attached.
- Develop a great product. If you like Kingdom Growers’ coffee, buy it. If not, don’t. That’s simple trade. If you buy a product to help a poor farmer, what happens when that farmer isn’t poor anymore? That’s why we work hard to make sure our coffee is delicious. Farmers should get paid for what their products demand—no more and no less. That’s simple, honest trade.
- Work is sacred. Trade, work, and even money are all gifts from God. How we handle ourselves every day speaks volumes. Our business provides testimony and communicates just like English or Spanish or any other language. Sometimes, we flub this testimony a bit here and there, but we must learn from our mistakes, apologize for them, and even laugh at our selves—but we must learn.
- Don’t compromise any of the above. We don’t.
Graham Blackwell (name changed) is the liaison between Kingdom Growers Coffee and Baptist Global Response. He and his family lived in Honduras From 2011 to 2012 and worked in agriculture and ministry.