National Black Farmers Association Congratulates Biden's Agriculture Secretary Nominee Tom Vilsack, Calls for Him to End "Culture of Discrimination" at USDA
December 8, 2020--For Immediate Release
Boyd and US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discuss terms of the Black Farmers Settlement on July 08, 2009 with Dr. Joe Leonard, Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights, USDA.
The following is the statement of John Boyd, President and Founder of the National Black Farmers Association, on the nomination by President Elect Joe Biden of Tom Vilsack to be Secretary of Agriculture:
"Secretary Tom Vilsack will certainly be a big improvement over Secretary Sonny Purdue. And while Black farmers had legislative successes during the Obama Administration, far too little was done during his tenure to address the long legacy of discrimination against Black farmers. Doors continue to be closed to many Black farmers and today our members face enormous challenges - including a system that disproportionately leaves them behind. To level the playing field and right these historic wrongs, Mr. Vilsack as Secretary must expand Black farmer access to land and credit and reform USDA's income support and insurance programs to end systemic discrimination. He must create outreach programs to help Black farmers participate in these programs and lift the veil of secrecy that hides the true extent of racial discrimination at USDA. I stand ready to work with Secretary Vilsack to meet these challenges - and to hold him accountable."
For interviews, please contact John Boyd at Johnwesleyboydjr@gmail.com or at 804-691-8528.
