Publisher’s Note:
In 2021, this website made a deliberate effort to connect with the Black farmer movement and to educate both our staff and visitors about the challenges Black farmers face. On a personal level, this journey has been an emotional roller coaster. I’ve experienced sadness, disgust, anger, confusion, and hurt. Are any of those feelings positive? The answer is NO. I can only imagine the depth of emotions felt by Black farmers, their families, and their supporters.
If you’re new to this issue or assume the USDA has already “done the right thing,” I encourage you to scroll down and watch the documentary “I’m Just a Layman in Pursuit of Justice.” This film chronicles the systemic injustices within the U.S. Department of Agriculture—often referred to as “the last plantation”—and shares the lived experiences of Black farmers who courageously fought against discrimination.
Our website is committed to raising awareness and advocating for justice for Black farmers. We have a dedicated section to share information about their plight, and we proudly sponsor the website at JusticeForBlackFarmers.com.
Gary A. Johnson, Founder & Publisher
Justice Has Been Delayed for Black Farmers, and They’re Looking to the Next President for Answers
Publisher’s Note: This story was originally published by Capital B News. It was written by Aallyah Wright, Capital B’s rural issues reporter.
Black farmers ponder: Will Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz really create change if they’re elected into office?
Bernice Atchinson, an 85-year-old advocate from Alabama, has been fighting for more than 40 years on behalf of her fellow Black farmers. She even represented them in the landmark case Pigford v. Glickman, a class-action lawsuit alleging the U.S. Department of Agriculture discriminated against Black farmers from 1983 to 1997 when they applied for federal financial assistance, and failed to respond to complaints of discrimination. Though the Pigford lawsuit resulted in two settlements to Black farmers, some say they’ve still experienced discrimination since, and haven’t gotten their due.
While it’s been challenging for past administrations to address the ongoing concerns of Black farmers, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris recently issued $2.2 billion to 43,000 farmers who have been discriminated against. The funds will be administered through the USDA. But, Atchinson says it’s still not enough.
“We are looking for something better,” she wrote Capital B in a statement.
Despite the limited progress, Atchinson still feels that Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, “will be a good team” to help Black farmers.
“This is my 40th year of working for our people … walking the streets of Washington, visiting … [Capitol] Hill. I’ve went and spoke, now who shall speak for me at 85? My hope is that Vice President Kamala Harris will,” Atchinson said. “There is always hope for us. How can I have faith in someone [former President Donald Trump] who has been convicted on 34 counts by his own peers?”
Atchinson is one of many Black farmers who are hoping that Harris and Walz make it to the presidency. It’s partly due to the lack of resources they received during Trump’s tenure in the White House. He handed out historic levels of pandemic-related funding, but less than 1% went toward Black farmers.
