Dear Congressionals in Texas, Whose State Has THE Most Black Farmers, The Clock in Ticking

August 8, 2023
 
RE: Concerns for USDA and Black Farmers
 
Dear Congressionals of Texas: Representative Crockett, Representative Green, Representative Jackson Lee, Representative Allred, and Representative Veacy
 
I am contacting you via phone and email since you represent citizens of the State of Texas and some of its most vulnerable citizens are under attack in Washington, DC by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
 
We are at a pivotal point in the history of our country and in this current election cycle. We want to share with you our concerns and make a request of you.
 
Texas has the most African American farmers of any state according to the 2017 Census of
Agriculture. At a national level, the Ag Census data indicates that there are 48,697 Black producers in the US and that there are 35,470 Black-operated farms. This is a significant decline from 1920 where there were upwards of 950,000 Black farmer operators and in 1910 Black farmers farmed 19 million acres. The losses have been horrendous and much of it is due to racism at USDA. These losses from the land, productivity, and generational wealth are estimated at $326 billion.
 
Our specific aim has been to find debt relief and compensatory damages for Black farmers. A large group of us met in front of the White House on March 1, demonstrating near the anniversary of the Fairness Hearing for the Pigford v. Glickman case before Judge Friedman, March 2, 1999. We believe now, as we believed then, that Pigford was a debacle and that Black farmers were worse off now than they were before. These kinds of remedies can only come when systemic change is brought about within the halls and offices of USDA/FSA.
 
As we all know, Congress had appropriated 120% of the indebtedness of socially disadvantaged farmer and ranchers within the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for debt relief and taxes for those farmers who had suffered discrimination in the farm/services division. Secretary Vilsack “slow-walked” the process and allowed 12 white farmer class action law suits to be filed and for two courts to issue restraining orders against USDA that disallowed them to pay Black farmers and other Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers. We believe this was a “self-fulfilling prophecy.”
 
In fact, many of us protested against Vilsack’s appointment long before he was appointed, but President Biden ignored us. In fact, we participated with the Biden/Harris transition team and were told at one point in the process that what we wanted, “race-based remediation to a historical anti-black process” was “unconstitutional.” We told President Biden and Secretary Vilsack about this. We understand now that Vilsack was orchestrating the conversation.
 
Then, in 2022, Congress signed the Inflation Reduction Act which made allocations available to “distressed” farmers and ranchers, a race neutral language that circumvented frivolous law suits. In that bill, $3.1 billion was allocated for “distressed” farmers to bring them into compliance with their debts with USDA/FSA for those with guaranteed loans. It also allocated $2.2 billion for farmers who can show that they were discriminated against. The Ag Secretary is slow-walking these processes as well.
 
We can identify ten or so Black farmers who have received partial or full relief from their debts. We know that there are approximately 3,000 Black farmers whose indebtedness is under $210 million. As far as we can discover, only one Black farmer received full debt relief in Texas, a widow whose husband owed $200K. We think Vilsack is “cherry-picking” farmers and that this is an attempt to enhance his credibility. We are not buying it.
 
Additionally, the process that he has established under the IRA for relief due to discrimination, with its administrator, hubs, and cooperators is another circumvention of justice for Black farmers. We believe the power to provide relief from decades of discrimination rests in the hands of the secretary and that he will be ineffective. As a result, Black farmers will continue to suffer.
 
We are at a pivotal point both in history and in this election cycle. While things are chaotic on the Republican side of potential candidates, we see President Biden as the only viable candidate on the Democratic side. However, a new third-party candidate, Dr. Cornel West, of the Green Party has begun to cut into the Black vote that has gone to Biden in the past. As time passes, that can only deepen the challenges. Dr. West is also the ONLY presidential candidate who has spoken up for Black farmers. You can see our conversation with him here as well as sound bites from him our recent panel discussion with the Whistleblowers Conference and Film Festival.
 
We, therefore, would like for you to stand with us, in concert with our voices to President Biden (see attached letter of January 19, 2023 and the Proclamation). Specifically, we ask you to call for a meeting at the White House with President Biden, voice your concerns for maltreatment of Black farmers and demand that he initiate systemic changes within USDA to erase racism once and for all. Only then will there be hope for a brighter future for Black farmers of Texas and the entire country.
 
Respectfully,
 
    -s-
 
Waymon R. Hinson, Ph.D.
903-271-4654
Denison, Texas 75020
Representative, Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association
Representative, Justice for Black Farmers
Representative, USDA Coalition of Minority Employees
 
Cc: Lawrence Lucas, President Emeritus, USDA Coalition of Minority Employees
       Representative, Justice for Black Farmers
       Representative Jasmine Crockett
            Jason Rodriguez, Chief of Staff
            Brandon Bradley, Legislative Director
       Representative Al Green
            Niha Razi, Chief of Staff
            Rachel Rodriguez, District Director
       Representative Sheila Jackson Lee        
            Lillie Coney, Chief of Staff
            Yuroba Harris, District Director
      Representative Colin Allred
            Paige Hutchinson, Chief of Staff
            Whitley O’Neal, Legislative Director
      Representative Marc Veasy
            Nicole Varner, Chief of Staff
            Luke Dube, Legislative Director