BLACK
FARMERS & AGRICULTURALISTS ASSOCIATION
&
THE LAND LOSS FUND
P.O. Box 61
Tillery, NC 27887
Phone:
252-826-3017 Fax/Phone:
(252) 826-3244 E-mail: tillery@aol.com
October 1, 2019
From: Gary R. Grant, President, BFAA
To: BFAA
Members & Friends
I hope you are not
one of those who thought that BFAA disappeared from the face of the earth.
Perhaps you have been wondering about BFAA and its presence in the fight for
justice. I can assure you that we are here and we need you to renew your
membership with the organization for just $40.00 for twelve months.
I as president have not been communicating
much of late. I can assure you that BFAA and I both are very busy and
very active in our righteous causes. Take a look at the following list:
1. BFAA Serves as a
clearing house for those who call in needing guidance on how to save their land
by being able to connect them with someone who can talk with them about the
issues they are facing and make referrals for assistance.
2. BFAA continues to
work with researchers to connect them with farmers, former farmers and
landowners in order that the real story of the Black farmers struggle will be
accurately documented. While we know that it is painful in retelling the
story, what we realize is that the story is going to be told and who better to
tell it than those who actually lived it.
3. We work
with other groups like the Rural Coalition, based in Washington, DC to help
impact policies that are being formulated by Congress so that the real issues
are kept in front of the legislators in order that Farm Bills that are
passed do not overlook the plight of Black farmers and our continued struggle.
4. There are
two major request that we continuously receive.
One is a requests for funds to ward off foreclosure. The other is for a young person seeking to
enter farming. However, we never have had funds for these two major
issues, and we know that the Black farmers still face the same major issues it
did prior to Pigford -- access to capital.
5. Currently, BFAA
is working with a documentary team that is covering those who got settlements
prior to Pigford and just how their lives have been impacted.
6. We are
working with an adjunct professor at Ohio State who is documenting the economic
impact of the loss of Black farmers, the impact Black land loss has on
communities economically, and how the wealth of Black farming
communities is on the downslide because of the disappearance of Black land
ownership.
7. We
worked with farm groups to get PIGFORD II established and assisted a
number of farmers in going after their rightful share.
8. BFAA
has been and is still a strong voice out there, but what we need now is to have
memberships restored.
9. BFAA is
planning the 16th National Black Land Summit for November 8 & 9,
2019. However due to circumstances
beyond our control, the Summit will take place in Roanoke Rapids, NC. We certainly hope that you will be in
attendance and will have renewed your membership with BFAA. Hopefully we
will be able to offer scholarships to cover some of the housing for this
Summit.
One thing that all
of us should have learned from the Pigford law suit and our struggle is that we
cannot depend on anyone to save us except ourselves.
Please take a
moment and complete the membership and Summit Registration forms that are
enclosed and send it to us in the
enclosed return envelope with your $40.00 membership fee.
WE NEED YOU AND YOUR MEMBERSHIP!!!!
Yours for the survival of Black Farmers and
Landowners,
Gary R. Grant
BFAA President
