Proclamation to President Joe Biden Regarding the Racism at USDA

THIS LETTER FURTHER EXPLAINS THE LETTER TO THE TEXAS CONGRESSIONALS THAT FOLLOWS. 

Proclamation to President Joe Biden Regarding the Racism at the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

June 23, 2023

On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that freed enslaved people in areas of the country. Then on April 9, 1865 the war ended with signatures at Appomattox Court House. Neither ended the brutality of bondage for enslaved Black agrarians. Two and a half months later on June 19, 1865, the word of freedom came to the shores of Galveston. However, slavery of Black people continued in this land.

Arising from this tragedy of plantations and bondage, Black agrarians came to possess significant numbers of farms and acreage. At the height of Black farmer ownership during the early 20^th century, 950,000 Black Americans owned approximately 17 million acres, comprising 14% of all farmers. Today, approximately 48,687 Black producers farm some 4.6 million acres, or 1.4% of all farmers and .5% of all farmland. While there are many factors that have historically shaped Black land loss, the major contributor is racism within what said to be “The Peoples’ Department.”

Decisions are being made to this day that lead to the continual confiscation of Black farmers’ land and loss of generational wealth at a tune of $326 billion. President after President, Congress after Congress, Secretary after Secretary, Black farmers are still being left out of the American agriculture mainstream.

There must be a reckoning for the decades of neglect and outright racism. We have lost too much land and a way of life. Our people are aging. The stress of facing persistent racist attitudes and behaviors day in and day out is killing our Black farmers. Now is the time for Black farmers to receive their justice. It is time for the Biden Administration and the American people to compensate them fully for their pain and suffering. It is time for USDA and its leaders to be held accountable for their malfeasance. Racism must be rooted out of USDA and accountability, transparency, equity, and justice found within “The Last Plantation.”