In the 1920s the number of Black farmers in the United States was at 14 percent. Today, that number stands at just 2 percent. The latest $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill includes billions of dollars to provide debt relief to Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and other farmers of color across the United States. John Boyd, founder and president of the nonprofit National Black Farmers Association, joined Start Your Day with Sharon Reed and Mike Hill to talk about what the package means for Black farmers. He says farmers of color have been fighting to get help in this area for thirty years and he was “elated” since the “long overdue justice” was on the way. Boyd said he’s thankful for Senators Cory Booker and Raphael Warnock who serve on Agricultural committees that helped to fight for the bill. In reference to Senator Lindsey Graham’s comments that Black farmers need to be checked, Boyd said farmers of color face discrimination in the loan approval process.
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