# @BlackVibeTribe on Facebook

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.facebook.com/1507632448040110/posts/950901668888861
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/59159509-BlackVibeTribe-facebook
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/afb3136f66.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-01-23T17:21:32.000+00:00

## Caption

It is IMPERATIVE that we #SupportBlackFarmers ‼️[READ ⬇️]

Earlier this year, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan. Included in the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill was $5 billion allocated to the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act — what some are calling a landmark piece of legislation for Black farmers. The plan, introduced by Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, requires the Department of Agriculture to “provide assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers,” with $4 billion going towards loan forgiveness and an additional $1 billion for support and resources for farmers of color. 

A few months later, the USDA announced that the loan forgiveness process would begin in June — only to have it come to a grinding halt on June 10th, when a federal judge in Wisconsin issued a temporary restraining order on the program. The 17,000 farmers who currently qualify for assistance are now left waiting in limbo due to a lawsuit brought by white farmers arguing that the program discriminates against them based on race and is thus unconstitutional 🤬

In reality, this program is a long overdue acknowledgement of the history of discrimination that Black farmers have faced at the hands of the government and the USDA and it is the LEAST they could do to begin making amends. 

Over the past century, the proportion of Black farmers in the U.S. has plummeted. In 1920, there were 925,000 Black farmers in the U.S., and 14% of farms were owned by Black farmers. Today, that number is just 2%, due to racial violence and racist lending and land ownership policies.

If the program is allowed to be implemented, while it wouldn’t nearly make up for all the harm done, it would be a positive step for racial justice and climate progress.

Let’s continue to raise awareness, spread the word, and buy from Black farmers in our area!

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## Tags

supportblackfarmers

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