08/07/2024
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is finally taking steps to address decades of discrimination, awarding $2.2 billion to Black and other minority farmers.
More than 23,000 farmers will receive direct payments ranging from $3,500 to $500,000.
National Black Farmers Association Founder and President John Boyd Jr. appreciates the funding but wants more—” We want our land, and I want to be very, very clear about that.”
Historically, the USDA’s discriminatory practices included refusing to process loans from Black farmers, approving smaller loans compared to white farmers, and, in some cases, foreclosing quicker than usual when Black farmers who obtained loans ran into problems.
President Biden made this historic announcement with Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary, who stated that this award “is not compensation for anyone’s loss or the pain endured, but it is an acknowledgment by the department.”
Visit ESSENCE.com to learn how this funding will affect African American farmers.