[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 119 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF RALPH PAIGE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 16, 2018

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of 
Ralph Paige, a man who tirelessly fought for African-American farmers.
  Beginning in 1985, Ralph Paige, spearheaded an advocacy organization 
for African-American farmers, formally known as The Federation of 
Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. This organization grew out 
of the civil rights movement. As a known champion and advocate for 
black farmers, Mr. Paige helped organize black farmers and others in 
the southeast into economic cooperatives. He educated them on how best 
to retain their land and later became their spokesman. His work to 
increase the awareness of the difficulty for African-Americans to 
maintain ownership of land and receive financial support from local 
institutions is appreciated and admired today.
  Mr. Paige wrote a 2010 column for The San Marcos Daily Record, ``When 
President Abraham Lincoln created the United States Department of 
Agriculture in 1862, he referred to it as the People's Department. The 
problem is that its services have never been available to all the 
people.'' Blacks were disproportionately denied loans, disaster relief, 
and other monetary aid for black farmers. Ralph Paige recognized that 
the loans black farmers did receive were often smaller and took longer 
to process than those for white farmers. Instead of complaining, he 
worked to ensure that thousands of farmers have land today.
  Today, we mourn the death of Ralph Paige. As a controversial figure, 
he managed to provoke thought in all of those who he came in contact 
with either in person or through his work. As we continue to dismantle 
stereotypes and racism, let us do so by honoring the life and legacy of 
Ralph Paige.

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