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In reply to the discussion: Black farmers were deliberately sold 'fake seeds' in scheme to steal their land: repo [View all]BumRushDaShow
(128,391 posts)42. Some interesting stats
For Decades, the USDA Was Black Farmers Worst Enemy. Heres How It Became an Ally
Sylvia A. Harvey posted Jul 08, 2016
<...>
In 1920, the number of Black-operated farms peaked at nearly a million, accounting for 15 million acres of farmlandthe size of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New Jersey combined. They made up 14 percent of the countrys farmers.
The height of Black farming didnt last. Faced with the economic and social barriers of the time and decades of racist and discriminatory policies, Black farmers spent the next century in decline. By 1982, their numbers were down to about 30,000just 2 percent of the nations total. That same year, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights predicted that no Black farmers would remain by the year 2000.
But today, the number of Black farmers in the United States is suddenly growing again. In 2012, there were more than 44,000 of them, up about 15 percent from 10 years earlier. Nationally, they were still less than 2 percent of the countrys farmers, but their growth is noteworthy after such an extensive decline. Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Florida all show gains, while Texas takes the lead with a gain of more than 2,500 Black farmers.
/image
Policy changes at the USDA seem to be driving the recovery. Those changes come after decades of criticism. In 1965, the Commission on Civil Rights studied the USDAs contribution to the sustainability of Black-owned farms and found that the USDA and its agencies excluded African Americans from programs that had raised the economic and educational levels of thousands of rural farmers. Despite the commissions recommendations, subsequent reports found that discrimination persisted.
<...>
http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/the-resurgence-of-black-farmers-20160708
Sylvia A. Harvey posted Jul 08, 2016
<...>
In 1920, the number of Black-operated farms peaked at nearly a million, accounting for 15 million acres of farmlandthe size of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New Jersey combined. They made up 14 percent of the countrys farmers.
The height of Black farming didnt last. Faced with the economic and social barriers of the time and decades of racist and discriminatory policies, Black farmers spent the next century in decline. By 1982, their numbers were down to about 30,000just 2 percent of the nations total. That same year, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights predicted that no Black farmers would remain by the year 2000.
But today, the number of Black farmers in the United States is suddenly growing again. In 2012, there were more than 44,000 of them, up about 15 percent from 10 years earlier. Nationally, they were still less than 2 percent of the countrys farmers, but their growth is noteworthy after such an extensive decline. Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Florida all show gains, while Texas takes the lead with a gain of more than 2,500 Black farmers.
/image
Policy changes at the USDA seem to be driving the recovery. Those changes come after decades of criticism. In 1965, the Commission on Civil Rights studied the USDAs contribution to the sustainability of Black-owned farms and found that the USDA and its agencies excluded African Americans from programs that had raised the economic and educational levels of thousands of rural farmers. Despite the commissions recommendations, subsequent reports found that discrimination persisted.
<...>
http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/the-resurgence-of-black-farmers-20160708
The above-linked article was written in 2016. Fast forward to 2018, with a new administration and a new era of raw, in-your-face racism, and I wouldn't be surprised if the "progress" noted in the above suddenly reverses. You can see, through this OP article, how that can happen. I.e., "bad seed" = "bad or reduced or minimal crop" = "less money" = "unable to sustain the farm and pay bills" = "sell off land to pay bills". Wash. Rinse. Repeat.... until you go out of business.
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Black farmers were deliberately sold 'fake seeds' in scheme to steal their land: repo [View all]
applegrove
Jul 2018
OP
While I agree with your use of those B/W terms we should be careful about imputation
erronis
Jul 2018
#45
You are SO right, and I usually avoid using black as evil. Thank you for the reminder. Edited.
ancianita
Jul 2018
#48
I hope the Chinese tariffs put all the crackers involved in this swindle out of business.
roamer65
Jul 2018
#19
Surely you would have expected a reasonable amount of white farmers to have suffered, if that were
OnDoutside
Jul 2018
#22
The OP is suggesting they are out to steal the land of black farmers, you are suggesting, no this is
OnDoutside
Jul 2018
#24
No, I queried whether you were suggesting racism wasn't involved, when clearly it was.
OnDoutside
Jul 2018
#26
I never suggested that racism was not involved, though you keep trying to convince yourself I did
Snake Plissken
Jul 2018
#27
I have yet to be able to find a single article claiming that this seed company purchased any land
Snake Plissken
Jul 2018
#55
The story sensationally claims that this seed company is doing this to steal Black farmers land
Snake Plissken
Jul 2018
#57
I doubt this middleman who ripped them off cared about anything but getting the money in his pocket
Snake Plissken
Jul 2018
#60
You are worried for a company that at the very least sold inferior seeds to customers who just
Demsrule86
Jul 2018
#31
Wow...sounds definitely like a massive hate crime here...nail the assholes to the wall! NT
SWBTATTReg
Jul 2018
#52