Why Is It Important To Give A Voice To Black Farmers?
By Gary Johnson, Publisher (Black Men In America.com)
As the creator of this website and the owner of several social media platforms, I feel it is my responsibility to use these platforms to educate the public on the plight of the American Black farmer. In order to understand their plight, we have to listen to their story. When I say “listen,” I mean listen for clarity.
These are real people who are losing their land, had it taken away and are suffering in a way that the average person probably cannot understand.
If you are new to this issue, or thought that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), had already “done the right thing,” you don’t know the facts. How many of us know a full-time Black farmer? Unless you personally know someone who owns and managers a farm for their livelihood, you don’t have a clue to their suffering. Hopefully, after reading this website and watching this video and the videos on their website, you can no longer say, “I didn’t know,” because the resources are only a “mouse click” away.
Season 1 Episode 1: This broadcast features host Lawrence Lucas, Black farmers Michael Stovall, Corey Lea and advocate Dr. Waymon Hinson. To learn more about the plight of the Justice for Black Farmers group and their battle with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) visit the Justice For Black Farmers website at www.justiceforblackfarmers.com.
The extended version of this broadcast can be viewed on our Black Farmer page at www.blackmeninamerica.com/black-farmers.
The number of black farmers in America peaked in 1920, when there were 949,889. Today, of the country’s 3.4 million total farmers, only 1.3%, or 45,508, are black, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture in 2019. By comparison, 95% of US farmers are white.
For more information on the plight of the Black farmers visit their website at www.justiceforblackfarmers.com.
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