Black farmers fight for funds from 1999 civil-rights lawsuit

In 1999, Black farmers won a $2.3 billion settlement against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for institutionalized racist discrimination in processing loans and assistance. The class-action lawsuit was the largest civil-rights settlement in U.S. history and an important victory against the USDA.

Black farmers are fighting for justice in the face of decades of racist practices by the USDA

The lawsuit was the result of years of militant struggle by Black farmers, led by the National Black Farmers Association and other organizations. The movement has engaged in rallies, marches and civil disobedience, including two separate incidents in which demonstrators were jailed for trying to enter the Department of Agriculture building.

The 1999 victory in Pigford v. Glickman covered all farmers who were discriminated against between 1983 and 1997. Lawsuits covering subsequent years of USDA racism have been unsuccessful in court.

Despite promises, the $2.3 billion settlement has yet to be paid in full. Only $900 million has been paid out, and the USDA has denied 81,000 claims out of 94,000 filed.

Many farmers, over 25,000, have not been included in the settlement. The Justice Department estimates that there are an additional 60,000 farmers who could file a claim and that an extra $4 billion is needed in order to fairly compensate all the farmers discriminated against.

As a U.S. senator, President Barack Obama placed a provision in the 2008 Farm Bill that opened the class-action lawsuit to Black farmers who had missed the original filing deadline. This was in the middle of the presidential campaign.

Not only have payments not begun under the new administration, but the bill also set aside a miserly $100 million for the farmers. This would reduce the payouts to Black farmers from an already inadequate $50,000 to $1,500 each. This is a tiny sum, considering the years of racist discrimination farmers have faced, including one Black farmer who had his life threatened by a USDA staffer with a gun. What was this staffer’s punishment? A one-day suspension with pay.

On April 28, in reaction to the government’s inaction, the NBFA held a demonstration outside the Department of Agriculture. Black farmers and supporters from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Oklahoma came out to continue their struggle for justice.

The speakers expressed the militancy of the day. Eddie Slaughter, a former vegetable farmer stated, “Equal justice doesn’t exist in America for the Blacks and for the poor. We have been denied the justice promised us.”

John Boyd, NBFA president, demanded, “Congress can dole out billions when it comes to [insurance company] AIG, to the banks, to the car companies. We’re simply saying, ‘Pay the Black farmers what they’re owed.’”

As a result of the Black farmers’ continued struggle, President Obama was forced to make a concession. He has proposed $1.25 billion in additional funds, instead of the original $100 million. In response to this proposal, Boyd answered, “We think this is a good step in the negotiating process.” “We’re glad to know this issue is on the president’s radar screen,” he added. “We need to make sure that none of the Black farmers are left out.”

Every Black farmer should be paid full compensation immediately for the racist crimes committed against them. Progressives should join their struggle. Fighting against racism and economic discrimination leads to greater unity and strengthens the position of all in the struggle against Washington and Wall Street.