The Biden administration has provided over $2 billion in direct payments to Black and other minority farmers who faced discrimination from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as announced by the president recently.
More than 23,000 farmers were eligible for payments ranging from $10,000 to $500,000, according to the USDA. Additionally, 20,000 individuals who intended to start farming but did not receive a USDA loan received between $3,500 and $6,000 in compensation.
The majority of payments were distributed to farmers in Mississippi and Alabama.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack stated that the aid “is not intended to compensate for losses or suffering, but rather as a recognition by the department.”
The USDA has a history of denying loans to Black farmers, offering smaller loans compared to white farmers, and in some cases, hastening foreclosures.
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National Black Farmers Association Founder and President John Boyd Jr. expressed that while the aid is beneficial, it falls short of addressing the larger issues. “It’s like putting a bandage on someone in need of open-heart surgery,” Boyd remarked.
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