National Black Farmers Association: Vilsack Must End "Culture of Discrimination" at USDA
February 23, 2021 --For Immediate Release
The following is the statement of John Boyd, President and Founder of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), on the confirmation of USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack:
“Secretary Vilsack will certainly be an improvement over former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue who had his doors closed to the NBFA. Too little was done during his prior tenure under President Obama to address the long legacy of discrimination against Black farmers. To level the playing field and right these historic wrongs, Secretary Vilsack must expand Black farmer access to land, loans and credit; reform USDA’s farm subsidy programs to end systemic discrimination and support legislation that requires full disclosure of all those who participate in USDA programs. He must resolve and settle the back log of civil rights complaints at USDA. Also he must create outreach programs to help Black farmers participate in these programs and lift the veil of secrecy that hides the true extent of racial discrimination by USDA. Finally, he must commit to change the culture of discrimination at USDA.
During my recent conversation with Secretary Vilsack he said he was committed to an open door policy and to work with the NBFA.
I stand ready to work with Secretary Vilsack to pass the Emergency Farmers of Color Act https://www.blackfarmers.org/press/boyd-commends-senators-introduction-of-new-legislation-to-address-decades-of-federal-discrimination-against-farmers-of-color-announcement-of-major-aid-provision-in-pandemic-relief-bill as well the Justice for Black Farmers Act https://www.blackfarmers.org/press/nbfa-endorses-comprehensive-bill-introduced-by-booker-warren-gillibrand-smith-warnock-and-leahy-to-address-the-history-of-discrimination-in-federal-agricultural-policy
Secretary Tom Vilsack with Dr. Joe Leonard, Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights at USDA and John Boyd, Jr., Founder and President, National Black Farmers Association.
For interviews, please contact John Boyd at Johnwesleyboydjr@gmail.com or at 804-691-8528.
