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White House site of protest

Black farmers rally against gov't racism

By Dianne Mathiowetz

Atlanta

About 150 farmers--members of the Black Farmers and Agriculturists Association and the National Black Farmers Association--rallied in Lafayette Park across from the White House on Dec. 13.

It has been almost one year since Judge Paul Friedman signed a consent decree outlining the settlement of a historic class-action lawsuit that charged the U.S. Department of Agriculture with racist discrimination. Abundant evidence exposed the many ways Black and other oppressed farmers were denied loans, access to informational programs and emergency relief.

Roughly 13 million acres of land has been taken from Black owners though outright theft, intimidation, foreclosure and bankruptcy.

While the settlement provided for monetary compensation, it did not remove or punish the USDA officials who committed the discriminatory acts. According to the BFAA and NBFA, the failure to deal with the personnel responsible for decades of racism meant that little would change for Black farmers on the local level.

At the time of the settlement, there was much media attention to the order that Black farmers who could show that they had been turned down illegally would receive $50,000 and the forgiving of their debt to the Department of Agriculture. The process for receiving payment has become a nightmare. Gary Grant of the BFAA and John Boyd of NBFA say they know of no one who has received any settlement money.

Black farmers are being required to supply unending documentation--including proof that a white farmer "similarly situated" received funding the same year that the Black farmer was denied.

"No other victims have ever had to furnish such proof after a culprit has pleaded guilty," stressed Gary Grant, president of the Black Farmers and Agriculturists Association.

The patterns of racist behavior are still in place, say the farmers. They point to a recent incident in Virginia where a USDA agent "displayed a loaded gun" to Black applicants. After an investigation found the allegations to be true, the agent was given a one-day suspension.

In North Carolina, USDA agents have reportedly left Black farmers sitting outside their offices for three hours and more.

Black farmers from 22 states participated in the Dec. 13 action, according to Melvin Bishop, head of the Georgia chapter of the BFAA. "We are tired of being played with. The president and the secretary of agriculture must act to see that justice is done for the Black farmers. Don't tell us one thing and then do another."

Bishop said that Black farmers from across the country would participate in the annual Martin Luther King Day march in Atlanta on Jan. 17. "We want to show that Dr. King's dream for equality and justice for all includes the Black farmer," said Bishop.

Copyright © 1999 workers.org