Black farmers – possibly over 70,000 of them – will get cash payments and debt relief from the federal government totaling $1.25 billion, in reparation for alleged racial discrimination suffered under the Department of Agriculture’s loan programs, the Obama Administration has agreed.
The president announced the deal on Thursday, applauding Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Eric Holder for “bringing these long-ignored claims of African American farmers to a rightful conclusion.”
The Washington Post called the settlement “part of a wider effort by Obama and senior officials to dispense with lawsuits stemming from America’s checkered civil rights legacy.”
House Majority Whip and Congressional Black Caucus member James Clyburn cheered the deal. “History has taught us to never give up when fighting for what is right,” he said in a statement. “What happened to these black farmers was wrong, and we now have the opportunity to make it right.”
Clyburn said, “I thank President Obama for his leadership on this issue” adding that “I especially want to congratulate my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus for keeping the focus on the plight of black farmers.”
Congress, as well as a federal judge, will have to approve the deal. The Justice Department told the Post that claims up to $50,000 will be able to be made to the government through a streamlined process, while larger claims will require more detail in the evidence a victim provides of government discrimination. The charges made by thousands of black farmers, with culpability finally accepted by Washington, accuse the USDA of decades of racist practices.
That $1.25 billion is only a fraction, however, of the sum that the reparations movement has called for to compensate for all the injustices committed against blacks in American history.
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37 comments:
"plight of the black farmers" ???
I think he just bought hundreds of thousands of votes....
There goes the neighborhood!!!! What's he gonna pull next???
These farmers had their day in court and won. It was found that the USDA did discriminate against them during the administration of programs that assisted farmers across the country but effectively locked black farmers out. Therefore this is not "alleged" discrimination; it was proven to be true.
The author also pulls off a stretch Armstrong routine by trying to falsely link loonies calling for slave reparations to this case (which again was fairly argued and won in the courts) but also to the president for honoring the court's decision. Sounds to me like simple race baiting and fearmongering.
Black Farmers??? yeah right, next thing you know a white man wins a dance contest...pleeeze!!
When do all the people that were turned down for jobs because of afirmative action get their checks?
Whats next?How many more 200 yr old issues are we going to be extorted for?
BS! 11:28am! I've never heard such malarkey. And if there is a case or two you might dare to dig up....that should come out of the USDA's pocket....not every tax payer and certainly not from stimulus money. I was wondering why they hadnt spent that money, now we know....watch and see how many times they buy black votes before election time!
Its my understanding that white people are going to be moved to a reservation where we build casino's and live tax free. In Mexico...
UN Freaking believable, will it never end...
We need another Federal Holiday, will someone please take care of this...
how arrogant can 1 thief be?
Can we the people, the original union...go on strike? Can we all just quit paying taxes till they understand we wont tolerate any more theft or waste?
12:10, before you continue to spout your BS, google Pigford v. Glickman.
And last I checked, the USDA's money is tax payer money.
Do you get all your information from Rush Limbaugh or do you create a little of it on your own too?
When I was 22 years old I took the NJSP test and scored an 83%. I wasn't selected to go forward because a white male had to score an 86%. A black male could have scored a 66% and moved forward. They told me it was part of their affirmative action plan. I want my reparations check!
This is the right thing to do. was long overdue.
Can you imagine the response if $1.25B were set aside to help white farmers, and it was cheered by the Congressional White Caucus. Reverand (not) Wright is proud of his racist in the black house.
I guess he'll be giving everyone their 40 acres and a mule as well.
I didn't expect any less.
considering my family fought for the union and many of them died, along with how much tax money my family members over the years have poured into the federal and state governments which supported welfare which many in the black culture use to sustain their lifestyles I think they have received their reparations already! in fact it's time for them to give back! or get out!
Unbelieveable how this area full og ignorant Rednecks responded with their racist comments...am surprised I haven't heard of any KKK activity on the Eastern Shore.
This has nothing to do with slavery if any of you morons would do a little research. What you should really be worried about is how much the government already gives out in farm subsidies. In 2005 it was $25 Billion!!! Including 1.3 Billion for people who don't even farm!! Some of whom are foreign interests who just buy land and the government pays them not to grow crops on land they aren't even around to grow!!
2:57, thats the whole point of the lawsuit. White farmers WERE recieving aid while black farmers, who were also tax paying citizens, were being locked out of the system.
3:47, whites have been sucking up a majority of that welfare you pay into. And last I checked blacks have been fighting and dying right alongside whites during every war in this nation's history. This is despite that fact that a majority of that time frame they were either being brutally oppressed or treated as second-class citizens. So cut your "give back or get out" crap.
4:13
Hear here!
Everyone please go back up and read 4:13 again. There is the STORY!
Thanks
4:15 - ouch - did you get yo racist nerve stepped on?
4:09, the only racist part I see is coming from your thug administration. Buying votes from any black with a shovel.....
I agree with all the other wasted subsidies, we need it ALL to stop, but instead it just gets worse.
What was the several other "black only" things he done last week?
I dont believe for 1 minute the USDA, even if they tried, could discriminate against EVERY black farmer. It's all a crock. If it were true why the heck didnt some other Pres do this years ago? CROCK!
4:33, I believe everything in my comment was a statement of facts in response to comments made by 347. But I forgot, these days alot of you consider the mere mention of this history as "racism", especially when it counters your "black people haven't done anything for this nation" narrative.
And 4:41, this has been an ongoing legal battle to which a part of this group had already won one a settlement. Therefore the case must have legs i.e. its not just "buying votes from any black..." Not to mention that with the ultra-high AA support Obama recieved and African American support for Dems in general, why would he need to buy votes?
Yes, alot of these subsidies are unfair. But many of the idealogues on too many of you fall for the age-old line from pols mouths that these subsidies are helping the small mom and pop farms.
in that case i want a settlement becuase i have been wronged affirmitive action.its hard getting a job over an uneducated minotity and possible offender.even for a white college graduate with military experience!screw obama and his supporters get him out in 2012!oh look up employment for minorites on goole one of the first results is jobs for ex cons and offenders.
now we can put spinners on our farm tractors!...... just kidding dont get bent ouy of shape
4:09, for the "redneck" comment, I would like for you to apologize. If you don't live here, don't judge people from here. If you do live here, shame on you. Come up with something more original.
To everyone bashing Obama for this, it's not really on him. He will have to sign this I'm sure but he isn't really the one handling this. Didn't vote for him, don't like him, but that's the way I see it. I understand your frustration. Being the son of several farming generations, I understand that it's hard being a farmer regardless of color. Aim your frustration towards the people making it difficult for all chicken farmers to get loans to expand their farms. I agree with the comment about subsidized loans for not growing anything. That's ridiculous.
I have read this story from 5 different sources so to get the full story. It appears this is the 2nd time something similar has been passed. This one is for the people who did not submit the paperwork on time back in the 90's or didn't know about it. My only problem is that it will be handled by the government which almost ensures it to be filled with fraud. It appears that as long as you can prove that you were denied a loan from the USDA that you can be entitled to the $50k. If you feel as though you have a more complex case you could be eligible for the $250K. That would of course require more effort. How many fraudulent reports will be filed? Will they follow up on all 65-70,000 possible complaints? Will they take into consideration people being denied because of bad or no credit? How bout people that had failed to payback previous loans? They need to evaluate these loans like they do the loans today. If the courts did find fraud, these people should absolutely be entitled to money. Just as long as they are followed up on.
5:40 one of the most thoughtful comments I've seen from a conservative on this blog. I agree 100%
I watched a local company layoff people a few years back and the most of them were people that did a good job and worked over and beyond to help support their families, and the minorities were the ones that are still there and still not working as hard, and still complaining, I'm just saying isn't right, The system is screwed up. Onther bad a*%#)@ mistake America, WAKE UP
Simple, stop paying taxes !
Black Farmers! Hmmmm! Where is my check for being discriminated against for years, I have worked my butt off so many a black folk could sit home and do nothing! I had to get up everyday to support my family all the while I was supporting many a black folk and their families all the while they sat home! It time for me to collect my check, this white man has been discriminated against, again!
well well well, Just another slap in the face. I have never discrimanated against anyone, and i certainly am tired of being accountable for something that may or may not be true. US citizens can not be held hostage for every wrong doing that ever happened. middle class white America doesnt stand a chance unless we stand together. I decend from a legacy of coal mining,and am proud of such, but they were the worst treated, under paid, group to ever hit the shores of this country, WHERES MY CHECK????????????
1:36 that is an outrage and I've always heard of this thing going on! It should be the best man for the job (or woman), not someone of a particular race. Whoever came up w/that nonsense made a disgrace of our country! Who cares if a company is all white, or all black, or all hispanic, or all asian? What the hell difference does it make? Lowering the bar for minorities means lowering standards and quality of service for customers. What a joke!
so guess what, now there will be 70,000 less farmers because of this. i think this is unfair and complete BS. why does it have to be money, why cant it be JOBS? paying for something WE had no control over. this happened more than 150 years ago. so does this mean the indians get a check next? hell this was their land in the 1st place.
Have any of you actually checked into the merits of this specific case. This is what I was talking about earlier; the author is linking a legitimate case to the BS calls from wahoos wanting reparations. This case points to recent discrimination (last 20 years). Not for slave reparations!
And to all you complaining about "black people sitting on their butt": A majority of us are out here working just as hard as you everyday. A majority of those welfare payments are going to white hands. It's alot easier to create your own narrative to demonize people than to look up the facts.
Are you freaken kidding me?!!! This is plain ridicious!
how many more days does this idiot have in office...one is too much! what a joke.
This after a black USDA agent admitted to discrimination against white farmers. It works both ways, and this legislation was wrong to single out black farmers. It's racist. Period.
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