As part of the COVID-19 stimulus and relief package, $5 billion was granted to farmers of color back in March. African-American farmers were also given the opportunity to speak out against the systemic prejudice perpetrated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the first time in US history.
It is a well-known fact that Black farmers often struggle to compete with their white counterparts as they don't have equal access to federal relief, thereby creating an inability to modernize and expand. Less access to credit, fewer industry connections, and smaller farms are just some of the many factors that make it difficult for African-American farm owners to gain an equal footing in agriculture.
Testimonies of Black Farmers
Black farmers offered familiar testimonies saying that the above-stated levels of aid have passed them by, not just in 2020 but also historically. Last year, the USDA distributed billions of dollars in subsidies, but Black farmers have yet to receive their fair share.
Black farmers now account for less than 2% of all farmers in the US, although they used to account for 14% of all farmers in the country. Many were pushed out due to the agriculture department's racist lending tactics, which resulted in massive losses of land, profits, income, and even generational wealth.
Thus, the USDA is now making efforts to gain back trust. In addition to appointing David Scott, the first Black person to chair the House Agriculture Committee, the USDA has also appointed Dewayne Goldmon, the former executive director of the National Black Growers Council (NBGC), as the USDA’s first Senior Advisor for Racial Equity to the Secretary of Agriculture. Moreover, the $5 billion relief package ($4 billion for debt forgiveness and $1 billion for other forms of support) is also meant to compensate farmers of color for the years of mistreatment by the USDA.
Nevertheless, Black farmers remain skeptical. “That’s all very much good intention. But the foundation of the USDA is crooked...You can’t put a new roof on and expect the foundation to be straight again,” stated Michael Carter, a farmer from Virginia.
Although the stimulus package may play a role in closing the disparity between Black farmers and white farmers, much work still needs to be done to better the living and working situations of many Black farmers. And the main challenge remains addressing racial mindsets that have perpetuated injustices in the fields.
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