In Minnesota high school gyms and college arenas, the path for young Black men is often framed strictly around athletics. But true community transformation often takes place far beyond the court. On a recent episode of Black Light on Sports, hosts Charles Hallman and Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald sat down with Twin Cities activist and entrepreneur Jonathan Mason for one of the podcast’s most expansive conversations on economic self-reliance, front-line activism, and the urgent push for Black agricultural sovereignty.
From Northside Minneapolis to a sprawling pasture in Bogus Brook Township, Mason’s journey centers on a singular mission: equipping the Black community with the tangible tools needed to thrive on their own terms.
From Northside roots to front-line advocacy
Raised in the Twin Cities with family roots stretching back to 1930s Minneapolis and the Mississippi Delta, Mason grew up navigating local public schools before earning a criminal justice degree from the University of Wisconsin–Stout. His early career in Minneapolis Public Schools quickly evolved into founding a cultural competency firm, but his calling shifted dramatically as systemic inequities hit close to home.
The tragic deaths of Jamar Clark, Philando Castile, Thurman Blevins, and George Floyd pushed Mason to the front lines of Minnesota’s civil rights movement. Drawing on his background in law, Mason took on a visible leadership role, organizing peaceful demonstrations, challenging law enforcement systems in court, and demanding structural accountability.
“Once I started to unpeel the onion of what actually was going on in Minnesota, I took it upon myself to be more vocal and active,” Mason recalled. “I said, ‘I can change the narrative. I’m going to have to be vocal, but I have to follow the law.’ That was my biggest thing.”
Life after sports: 20 Pastures Farm
While Mason remains deeply committed to justice reform, his latest endeavor tackles another systemic crisis: nutritional deserts in urban neighborhoods. Partnering with his long-time close friend and former NBA player Rashad Vaughn, Mason is helping run 20 Pastures Farm in Milaca, Minnesota.
With Black farmers accounting for roughly 0.2% of all farmers in Minnesota, 20 Pastures Farm represents a ground-breaking shift toward self-determination. The initiative goes beyond traditional farming; it serves as an educational hub for urban youth, teaching them woodworking through Mason’s furniture venture, Mason Tree LLC, as well as livestock management, butchering, and agricultural economics.
“So many times we see kids fall into that echelon of just basketball, sports, or music,” Mason explained. “The expansion from life after sports for professional athletes is a wonderful avenue… We’re teaching people within our community that we can take and create our own system around the things that we need.”
To date, the farm has brought over a hundred inner-city youth out to the country to experience farm-fresh meals, gather eggs, interact with livestock, and learn the mechanics of local food production. The team is currently working toward acquiring a USDA-certified food processing plant, which would mark the first Black-owned facility of its kind in the region and establishing direct-to-door fresh meat and produce delivery for urban families utilizing EBT benefits.
“You deserve the best of the best,” Mason said regarding food access in lower-income neighborhoods. “It doesn’t matter if you’re on government assistance or you’ve had a tough patch in your life… you still deserve to eat well.”
Civic engagement and collective growth
As local election cycles approach, Mason urged residents to channel their energy into city and county leadership, noting that clean water, local business policies, and neighborhood safety directly impact daily life long before national politics take center stage.
For Mason, whether advocating in courtroom halls, negotiating municipal policy, or chasing runaway goats alongside rural neighbors, building cross-cultural bridges and maintaining an unyielding love for Black culture remain paramount.
Pearls of wisdom
To close the episode, Mason shared a core principle inspired by Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton: “observation and participation.”
“That is, I believe, the key to human development,” Mason emphasized. “I want everybody that is in a role of leadership to give your skills without gatekeeping—give them to the next generation… Just start, go, and let it lead where it leads.”