"I Am A Farmer"

Several years ago the words that follow just popped into my head, so I pulled over and wrote them down. The same situation exists today. Racism with all of its manifestations occurs with the USDA. You'll find below some specific lines to Mr. President, Mr. Justice Man, and Mr. Government Man. Some of us have met with all of them. I have met up with Justice Man and Government Man. The current occupant of the White House and his USDA Secretary are unconcerned about these things so they have to play their way out in court. Some cases have been in some sort of administrative process for upwards of 20 to 30 years. Yes, that's right. Even farmers who "prevailed" under PIgford I and PIgford II have been screwed over. They should have received a number of things including debt relief, a huge thing for farmers. Many never got it. I hope you'll read and use your imagination on the lyrics to this song. FYI that I am looking for a Black male to record this tune. Over the last few months we have been connecting with various presidential candidates and the coalition with which I am involved has helped to shape Senator Warren's policies. A quick google search will land you on that. 

I Am a Farmer*

I am a farmer,
You can plainly see;
Yes, my skin is Black,
Black as I can be.

I am a farmer,
I’ve got a story to tell,
So listen up now,
I’m as mad as…...

Well, I am a farmer’s wife,
You can plainly see.
I am a farmer’s wife,
Black as I can be.

I am a farmer’s wife
We’ve got a story to tell,
So listen up now,
We’re mad as…….

REFRAIN

Well, Mr. Gov’ment man,
What’s a wrong with me?
Is it that my skin is black,
Why you’re mistreatin’ me?

So, Mr. Gov’ment man,
I don’t want it all,
Just want my share,
Like those white folks there.

I am a farmer’s child,
You can plainly see,
I am a farmer’s child,
Black as I can be.

I am a farmer’s child,
We’ve got a story to tell,
So listen up now,
We’re mad as…..

REFRAIN

Well, Mr. Justice man,
What’s a wrong with us,
Is it that our skin is black,
Why you’re mistreatin’ us?

So, Mr. Justice man,
We don’t want it all,
Just want our share,
Like those white folks there.

I am a farmer’s friend,
You can plainly see,
I am a farmer’s friend,
White as I can be.

I am a farmer’s friend,
They’ve got a story to tell,
So, listen up now,
We’re mad as…..

REFRAIN

Well, Mr. President,
What’s a wrong with them?
Is it ‘cause their skin is Black,
Why yore mistreatin’ them?

So, Mr. President,
They don’t want it all,
Just want their share,
Like those white folks there.

So, Mr. Gov’ment man,
When can we talk?
So, Mr. Justice man,
You gonna make us walk?

So, Mr. President,
When’s it goin’ to end?
So, Mr. President,
When will the change begin?

I am a farmer,
As you can plainly see.
Yes, my skin is black,
Black as I can be.

I’m gonna work this land
Just as long as I can.
Gonna work those fields
Until I can’t.

REFRAIN

So, Mr. Gov’ment man,
When can we talk?
So, Mr. Justice man,
You gonna make us walk?

So, Mr. President,
When’s it goin’ to end?
So, Mr. President,
When will the change begin?

Just want my share,
Like those white folks there.
Just want my share,
Like those white folks there.
Just want my share,
Like those white folks there.

*Copyright Waymon Hinson

Then He Went to Church

On Monday he ignored a loan application from a Black farmer
Then on Sunday he went to church.

On Tuesday he changed the farmer's farm home plan to match what he wanted
Then on Sunday he went to church.

On Wednesday he called him a lazy ass nigger
Then on Sunday he went to church.

On Thursday he made the farmer wait and wait and wait while he sat at his desk
Then on Sunday he went to church.

On Friday he signed the foreclosure agreement
Then on Sunday he went to church.

The following Monday he failed to advise the Black farmer of disaster relief options
Then on Sunday he went to church.

The following Tuesday he told the farmer that his loan would be supervised
Then on Sunday he went to church.

The following Wednesday he told the farmer that his funds were in, too little too late
Then on Sunday he went to church.

The following Thursday he told the farmer that there was no money for him
Then on Sunday he went to church.

The following Friday he initiated yet another foreclosure agreement
Then on Sunday he went to church.

He attended the foreclosure sale on the courthouse steps
Then on Sunday he went to church, and he sang,
And he prayed,
And he may even have taught his Sunday school class.