NEWS BRIEF: Agriculture secretary commits to helping Black farmers in Georgia
Funds for Black farmers still being held back
Photo credit: File photo/Creative Commons
Black farmers in Georgia are still waiting for $4 billion in debt relief to make up for decades of discriminatory lending practices by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During an Atlanta visit on Monday, agency chief Tom Vilsack said there is hope for a solution. “We’re filing briefs, we’re filing motions, we’re doing discovery, we’re moving forward so that if something doesn’t get worked out in Congress, ultimately judges will make decisions and we’ll go from there,” he said. The grants are being held up by lawsuits claiming white farmers should be awarded funds as well. gpb.org