Politico reports that Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) recently reintroduced his Justice for Black Farmers Act to address discrimination and injustices Black farmers have been experiencing at the hands of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (UDSA).
And new Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) just introduced the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act, which would provide $5 billion for Black farmers. Why is this important news?
Since 1920, the Black farmer population has dwindled from a healthy 1 million strong to a measly 50,000. Many factors contributed to the massive loss of land and workers, but none were as important as discriminatory federal policy and unequal business practices.
Today Black farmers struggle to avoid foreclosures during civil rights investigations as well as to access federally chartered loans, financial assistance, debt forgiveness, and disaster relief as the pandemic rages on.
Through their new positions in the Senate Agriculture Committee – historic as they are the first Black congresspeople on the committee in over 150 years – both senators hope to address these major concerns directly.
Warnock in particular is making good on campaign trail promises made to some 2,000 Georgia Black farmers.
We need Black politicians like this to fight for justice on behalf of Black people. Just look to this bold step meant to close equity gaps in agriculture as an example!