Dr. John Boyd, Jr. Blog Site

• Keynote speaker: Dr. John Boyd, Jr.
• Speaker: Hon. Dr. Hazel M. Dukes, President, NYS Conf of NAACP Branches

In the late 1980s, John Boyd was a hard working fourth-generation Virginia farmer just trying to stay ahead. When his loan request was turned down again and again by the Dept. of Agriculture and his requests for other forms of state assistance available for farmers were ignored, John turned his deep frustration into action.

In the spring of 1995, with no existing organization to turn to, John decided to start his own—and the National Black Farmers Association was born. After meeting many more of his fellow black farmers, John Boyd realized that he was far from alone in the land of farming discrimination and he marched his NBFA members to Washington. He went on to meet with President Clinton and to testify about the farmer’s plight before Congress.

Suddenly people were willing to take his calls. Suddenly black farmers had a voice. And suddenly, years of racial discrimination against black farmers began to be challenged. It was the beginning of Boyd’s fight for justice and equality for farmers of color that continues today.

This defender of civil rights has served in many appointed and leadership roles including as agricultural advisor for the state of Virginia and candidate for Secretary of Agriculture during the Obama administration. He has been profiled by 60 Minutes, CNN, The Washington Post and Nightline; Ebony Magazine currently ranks him as one of the most influential African-Americans.

Dr. Boyd continues to live in Virginia and work his farm.

The theme of his keynote address will be No Struggles, No Progress.

Nyack Branch NAACP 53rd Annual Dinner Thurs, April 26 at 5:30pm at Pearl River Hilton, Pearl River NY. Tickets $75.00

Info: Voncile Oliver(845) 268-6626 Maria Whittingham (845) 664-8492.

Forty-four days late, justice finally showed up for Trayvon Martin and his family. Florida Special Prosecutor Angela B. Corey announced yesterday that she will charge George Zimmerman with second-degree murder for the shooting death of the unarmed teenager on February 26 in Sanford, Florida.

Many attributed the belated charges to a national outcry and widespread outrage expressed through protests and prayers as days, and then weeks went by with no arrest or indictment in the shooting. President Obama expressed sympathy for the victim’s family, noting that if he had a son he would have looked like Trayvon Martin. Attorney General Eric Holder launched an investigation and Florida removed the case from local police hands.

Corey said she had made no promises to the victim’s parents as she weighed the decision to charge Zimmerman, but did discuss what her office could do if Zimmerman went free “to make sure your son’s death was not in vain.” By nightfall Zimmerman surrendered to police and became a criminal defendant.

Martin family attorney Daryl Parks told MSNBC talk show host Ed Schultz that he is confident Zimmerman will be convicted once all the evidence is heard in court, but he added, “This family is not gloating.”

It’s not just about Trayvon Martin, social justice agitator Rev. Al Sharpton declared. “It’s about ‘Stand Your Ground,’” the “justifiable homicide” laws passed in more than 20 states, beginning with Florida. Deaths have tripled in some states under these legally permitted killings based on fear and, in many cases, prejudgment of the victims. Many protesters dressed in “hoodies,” the hooded sweat shirts worn by athletes, toddlers and grandparents, but widely associated with gangster behavior.

The death of this young black man has dominated news coverage and social media since about a week after the shooting. We have all at some point watched the news coverage on 24-hour cable news networks. Rallies have been in held in Sanford, Florida, where Trayvon was slain, in Washington, D.C., New York City and in scores of other cities and on many college campuses.

The rallies help shed light on what looked to be a person escaping the rightful processes of judicial system. In effect, Trayvon became the symbol for a longstanding pattern of excessive violence against young black males in the United States against police and others who see them as threatening and criminally inclined. Some have compared him to Emmett Till, who became a spark that ignited the civil rights movement when he was tortured and murdered in Mississippi in 1955.

Trayvon Martin was shot as he walked home through a gated community, carrying a bottle of iced tea and carrying a bag of candy. Zimmerman, 28, a neighborhood watch volunteer, apparently confronted him while he was on the phone with his girlfriend at about 7:12 p.m. He reported the teenager’s presence as “suspicious” to police in a 911 call, but did not cease following him as the police dispatcher advised.

Residents who heard or saw the confrontation also called police, so much of the incident was captured on tape, including gunshots and cries for help. Travon’s mother said the calls for help were her son’s dying cries. Zimmerman told police that Martin attacked him and he shot in self-defense. Police arrested and questioned Zimmerman but released him. He remained free until April 11. The victim was taken away by ambulance and his body identified in the morgue the next day after his father reported him missing.

For those in the black community it was a story heard far too many times. The Trayvon Martin case re-opened old wounds for black Americans, most of whom see the case as a clear instance of murder. So often black males are stereotyped as dangerous because of the clothes they wear, or perhaps their swagger. I do hope the nation has learned one lesson: I do not deserve to be shot for wearing a hoodie.

What have we learned is very clear, that the need for racial healing is still greatly needed. I have been calling for a national town hall campaign on race for years.

Every year or so, a high profile case of apparent racial prejudice, often ending in violence, erupts in the media. Remember Rodney King, Abner Louima and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates? Even fame and wealth could not shield Bill Cosby’s son from this pattern.

The uneven system of justice that disproportionately incarcerates young black men by the thousands sets the tone for targeting those on the outside. This case underscores the consequences of America’s long avoidance of our painful racial past. The old unhealed wounds penalize all of us. Let’s face up to what this case has uncovered: the deep divide that continues to haunt America.

February 27, 2012

Kings Landing Women’s Service Club
P.O. Box 68024
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-663-3199
Marge Green, President Linda Hursey, Secretary

12-28-11
Kings Landing Women Host 37th Annual MLK Jr. Breakfast

The Kings Landing Women’s Service Club will hold its 37th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast on Monday, January 16, 2012 at Martin’s West, 6817 Dogwood Road, Woodlawn, MD.
This year’s featured speaker is John W. Boyd, Jr. Founder and President of the National Black Farmers Association. Mr. Boyd is one of America’s most effective defenders of civil rights. He has been featured in The Washington Post, “60 Minutes,” “Nightline,” CNN and as ABC News Tonight’s “Person of the Week.” In 1995, Boyd founded the National Black Farmers Association after encountering the USDA’s discriminatory practices first-hand and meeting many more black farmers who shared this experience. Boyd soon led NBFA members in a march on the White House, met with President Clinton and testified before Congress. Due to his efforts, the plight of black farmers caught the nation’s attention.
Mr. Boyd’s pursuit of justice continues in his work with the NBFA and as an organizer of the Fairness Now for Black Farmers rallies.
Music for this event will be provided by the world renowned Gospel Recording Artist Reverend Anthony Brown of Baltimore.
This year’s honorees include Mothers and Grandmothers Against Violence God’s Way, Take Charge Juvenile Diversion Program, The Lacey B. Ivory Foundation, The Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, Black Professional Men and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority – Alpha Zeta Chapter. Past honorees include Women Accepting Responsibility (WAR), Sisters Network – Baltimore, Urban Leadership Institute (ULI), The Roots of Scouting, WO-Be-CO – Women Behind the Community, Vulcan Blazers, Beta Sigma Tau Fraternity, The Top Ladies of Distinction, National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa – Gamma Chapter and the Chick Webb Recreation Center.
The Kings Landing Women’s Service Club’s celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is the oldest celebration of its kind on the East Coast. Founded over 35 years ago in Maryland, the goal of the breakfast is to bring together people from all communities to celebrate the life and teachings of Dr. King.
Tickets are $40 per person and a table of 10 is $400. Tickets and information can be obtained by contacting (410) 663-3199.

Black Farmer Settlements ‘Long Overdue’ (VIDEO)

Message flagged Thursday, October 27, 2011 10:48 PMMessage body
For Immediate Release / Thursday, October 27, 2011

HISTORIC BLACK FARMERS SETTLEMENT RECEIVES COURT APPROVAL

John Boyd and Team Mark Achievement After 12 Year Effort

WASHINGTON, DC – John W. Boyd, Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, hailed the ruling that Federal Judge Paul L. Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued tonight granting the motion to certify and approve the settlement in the historic Black farmers discrimination case.

In his ruling https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2010cv1053-43, Judge Friedman wrote: “Today, because of a Congress that was willing to once again waive the statute of limitations and to appropriate $1.25 billion to help further redress the historic discrimination against African-American farmers, the Court is pleased to approve the settlement agreement proposed by the Moving Plaintiffs, and endorsed by the United States, as fair, reasonable, and adequate. It will also approve the appointment of neutrals who will participate in the implementation agreement. This settlement is the product of extraordinary efforts by private litigants and their counsel, by the Congress, and by the Executive Branch. The Court joins all of those parties in hoping that it will bring class members the relief to which they are entitled.”

John Boyd said tonight: “This is a very important step that should provide assurance to the Black farmers that each of their cases will now move towards a resolution. Tonight we must honor Judge Friedman, Congress, the Obama Administration – including the Departments of Agriculture and Justice – and each of the individuals who worked tirelessly on this case. Over the years I have found Judge Friedman to be fair and on many occasions he has done everything in his power to move this case towards a final resolution. We will always appreciate the work he did to achieve justice for the nation’s Black farmers.”

Boyd and the team that has supported the organization’s efforts on behalf of the nation’s black farmers, devoted much of their professional careers since 1999 to the work on behalf of these farmers.

Through this 12 year process there were two historic Congressional steps – the passage of $100 million in the Farm Bill in 2008 that re-opened the Black farmers case that had been shut to tens of thousands of claimants, and the passage of $1.15 billion to fund the settlement.

Boyd’s efforts have been chronicled by the national press throughout this effort that has involved working with three presidential administrations and their leadership at the Departments of Agriculture and Justice, working with Congress, and a relentless strategy to keep the issue of the Black farmers in the news through public events (including rallies, marches, and press conferences), communications and policy efforts, conferences and more.

“Today is an important day, in fact a truly historic day for the nation’s black farmers and for all of those who worked so hard to give every farmer their day in court so they may be compensated for the government’s discrimination,” said John Boyd.

This action by the Court is the critical step that now puts this long journey into a final – yet lengthy – phase for compensating the thousands of late filers who were discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, never had their cases heard on the merits, and finally won a new settlement and passage of $1.25 billion in funding for payments passed through Congress and signed into law by President Obama on December 8, 2010 at the White House.

“It is also important for the farmers to know that all cases must be adudicated before the payments go out to the farmers,” said Boyd. “After all we have been through – justice always finds its way home. I have been praying for this day.”

BACKGROUND

Highlights of John Boyd & NBFA’s Work:
• Meetings with President Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama and White House staffs
• Meetings with every agriculture secretary between 1999 and 2011
• Congressional meetings and calls with leadership, committee members and rank and file members and staff
• Congressional testimony multiple times
• Written materials including press releases, statements, policy documents, report/study and more
• Hundreds of news media articles, TV segments and radio interview segments

Highlights of the Work for Justice Since 1999:
• Rally outside U.S. District Court – 1999
• Tractor rally at USDA – August 2002
• 200 mile mule ride and rally at USDA – November 2003
• USDA protests – 2006, 2009, 2010
• Rallies across the nation and tractor ride through Washington, DC – 2011
• Numerous events and press availabilities in between

For Immediate Release / Thursday, October 27, 2011

HISTORIC BLACK FARMERS SETTLEMENT RECEIVES COURT APPROVAL

John Boyd and Team Mark Achievement After 12 Year Effort

WASHINGTON, DC – John W. Boyd, Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, hailed the ruling that Federal Judge Paul L. Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued tonight granting the motion to certify and approve the settlement in the historic Black farmers discrimination case.

In his ruling https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2010cv1053-43, Judge Friedman wrote: “Today, because of a Congress that was willing to once again waive the statute of limitations and to appropriate $1.25 billion to help further redress the historic discrimination against African-Americans farmers, the Court is pleased to approve the settlement agreement proposed by the Moving Plaintiffs, and endorsed by the United States, as fair, reasonable, and adequate. It will also approve the appointment of neutrals who will participate in the implementation agreement. This settlement is the product of extraordinary efforts by private litigants and their counsel, by the Congress, and by the Executive Branch. The Court joins all of those parties in hoping that it will bring class members the relief to which they are entitled.”

“This is a very important step that should provide assurance to the Black farmers that each of their cases will now move towards a resolution. Tonight we must honor Judge Friedman, Congress, the Obama Administration and each of the individuals who worked tirelessly on this case. Over the years I have found Judge Friedman to be fair and on many occasions he has done everything in his power to move this case towards a final resolution. We will always appreciate the work he did to achieve justice for the nation’s Black farmers.”

This is the critical step that now puts this long journey into a final – yet lengthy – phase towards compensating the thousands of late filers who were discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, never had their cases heard on the merits, and finally won the new settlement and passage of $1.15 billion in funding for payments passed through Congress and signed into law by President Obama on December 8, 2010 at the White House.

Boyd and the team that has supported the organization’s efforts on behalf of the nation’s black farmers, devoted more than a decade to this case. Boyd and this team have devoted much of their professional careers since 1999 to the work on behalf of these farmers.

Boyd’s efforts have been chronicled by the national press throughout this effort that has involved working with three presidential administrations and their leadership at the Departments of Agriculture and Justice, working with Congress, and a relentless strategy to keep the issue of the Black farmers in the news through public events (including rallies, marches, and press conferences), communications and policy efforts, conferences and more.

“Today is an important day, in fact a truly historic day for the nation’s black farmers and for all of those who worked so hard to give every farmer their day in court so they may be compensated for the government’s discrimination,” said John Boyd. “We are supportive of the steps taken by Congress, the White House, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and todays Court approval said Boyd. We look forward to a hearing on the fairness of the distribution of legal fees. This issue should not hold up or slow down a single payment to the farmers, but must be resolved by the court in an appropriate manner.” It is also important for the farmers to know that all cases must be adudicated before the payments go out to the farmers said Boyd. After all we have been through justice always finds its way home, I have been praying for this day Boyd concluded.

Highlights of the work of Boyd and his team include:
• Meetings with President Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama and White House staffs
• Meetings with every agriculture secretary between 1999 and 2011
• Congressional meetings and calls with leadership, committee members and rank and file members and staff
• Congressional testimony multiple times
• Written materials including press releases, statements, policy documents, report/study and more
• Hundreds of news media articles, TV segments and radio interview segments

Highlights of Boyd’s events since 1999:
• Rally outside U.S. District Court – 1999
• Tractor rally at USDA – August 2002
• 200 mile mule ride and rally at USDA – November 2003
• USDA protests – 2006, 2009, 2010
• Rallies across the nation and tractor ride through Washington, DC – 2011
• Numerous events and press availabilities in between

Examples/highlights of press coverage of Boyd’s efforts:
• USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, C-SPAN, Associated Press, Reuters – August 2002
• ABC World News Tonight – Person of the Week, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, Roll Call – November 2003
• CBS Evening News – Eye on America – December 2004
• Roll Call cover story – 2008
• The Washington Post cover story – 2009
• The New York Times – Editorial: Pay Up – February 8, 2010
• CNN feature stories – 2010
• And more every year from 1999 through present

NBFA Statement on the signing of the US Trade Agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama
October 20, 2011

For Immediate Release

John Boyd President of the National Black Farmers Association Released
the Following Statement on the signing of the US Trade Agreements with
Korea, Colombia and Panama

This past June, I had the opportunity to meet with United States Trade
Representative Ron Kirk. We discussed ways to improve trade
opportunities for Black and other minority farmers, including the
Korea, Colombia and Panama agreements. The NBFA supported the passage
of the implementing bills for these agreements and is honored to take
part in the signing ceremony at the White House with President Obama
and Ambassador Kirk.

We appreciate the leadership of Ambassador Kirk and other leaders of
Congress to make this a reality. We know it was not easy. But these
trade bills will open new doors of opportunity for America’s farmers
and ranchers. This is another example of the Obama Administration
improving lives in rural America, which is the NBFA’s top priority.

Below is further information on each of the three agreements, taken
from USTR.gov and other sources. Members can visit www.ustr.gov/fta or
the USDA website for more details, to take full advantage of the
agriculture export opportunities these agreements offer.

Korea: The United States is already South Korea’s top supplier of
agriculture products, including of a broad variety of farm products
such as almonds, fresh cherries, hides and skins and corn. The
U.S.-South Korea trade agreement creates new opportunities for U.S.
farmers, ranchers and food processors seeking to export to South
Korea’s 49 million consumers, giving American agricultural producers
more market access in two ways – by getting rid of tariffs charged
when U.S. exports come into South Korea, and by laying out a framework
to tackle other barriers to U.S. exports –even those that might arise
in the future.

Colombia: Colombia is an important market for America’s farmers and
ranchers. In 2010, the United States exported $832 million of
agricultural products to Colombia, the second highest export total in
South America. Top U.S. exports include wheat, corn, cotton, soybeans,
and corn gluten feed. Upon implementation of the Colombia TPA, U.S.
exporters will receive immediate duty-free treatment on products
accounting for almost 70 percent of current trade.

Panama: In 2010, the United States exported over $450 million of
agricultural products to Panama, more than double U.S. agricultural
exports to Panama in 2005. Top U.S. exports were corn, soybean cake
and meal, wheat, rice, and horticultural products. Upon implementation
of the Panama TPA, U.S. exporters will receive duty-free treatment on
products accounting for more than half of current trade, with tariffs
on most remaining agricultural products phased out within 15 years.
Moreover, the two countries signed a far-reaching agreement on
sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical standards that
eliminated long-standing regulatory barriers faced by a variety of
U.S. products in the Panamanian market