Eddie and Dorothy Wise, Black Farmers, Americans, Justice for Some

One of my tasks with the Black Farmers & Agriculturalists Association is to serve occasionally as fundraiser. Until we get more proficient at this, we use www.gofundme.com.

A couple of years ago we raised some needed funds for a Black Farmers Summit at Howard University, Washington, DC. That event was a success. Contributors were told about their meaningful contributions before that page was taken down.

Now, we have been engaged in another fundraising cause since January of this year. It is a different sort of campaign. It has gotten personal, very personal.

I first met Eddie and Dorothy Wise back in 2005 or so when I first began what has been an amazing relationship with BFAA. At that time Eddie was actively involved in growing sweet potatoes and raising hogs in an environmentally safe manner. All he wanted to do was farm. My respect for him also is based upon his service in the US Army. I have a soldier grandson who is in the US Army. War is more real than ever before.

Their story of mistreatment at the hands of the USDA came next. I was given a copy of the document, "Wise v. Glickman, 2000."  There were multiple failures on the part of the USDA: "the failure to provide loan applications when requested, technical support and assistance in the application process, submission of applications in a timely fashion, information and assistance relative to guaranteed load opportunities, and timely processing of loan applications. The USDA denied loan applications purposefully, and retaliatory actions were taken by the county supervisor. Options for socially disadvantaged farmers in keeping with USDA policy were not offered. The USDA failed to investigate the county supervisor. The couple experienced loss of land, credit, mental and physical health, and public humiliation" (Hinson & Robinson, 2008, page 293.).

They have been removed from their land at gun point, lived in a motel for several months, and, now, she has had her legs amputated.

These and more details are found at https://www.gofundme.com/39m8623g.

Just read the updates. They tell the story.

You'll even see photos of guns held by men in black.

This is America. Land of the free. Justice for some.