Black Farmers Granted $2 Billon From USDA To Address Historical Discrimination

Source: FG Trade / Getty Biden’s administration issued $2 billion in federal funds to black and minority farmers who experienced mistreatment by the United States Department of Agriculture, as announced on Wednesday. MORE: Housing Injustice: How Criminalizing People Experiencing Homelessness Doesn’t Solve The Problem The direct payments will be sent to “eligible applicants [under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP)], [aiming] to provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination prior to January 2021” (USDA.gov). “[It’s] not compensation for anyone’s loss or the pain endured, but it is an acknowledgment by the department.” -USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack Total recipients, roughly 43,000, include individuals who planned to become farmers but could not enter the field due to discriminatory USDA loan practices, and those who received smaller payments than equal white counterparts. The funds were distributed in all 50 states, with Mississippi having the most recipients (followed Alabama and Oklahoma). MORE: 40 Acres And A Mule: What Are Reparations And Why Is The Concept So Polarizing? “I promised to address the inequity [in agriculture] when I became President. Today that promise has become a reality. My Inflation Reduction Act took a bold step to address...