[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 3 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Pages 205-206]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Efforts To Redress Wrongs Against African-American Farmers

January 20, 2001

    For too many decades, African-American farmers have labored in 
America's fields without a true share of this Nation's agricultural 
prosperity. And for too long, governmental neglect has contributed to 
the impoverished condition of the African-American farmer.
    But the Government can right an old wrong. In December of 1997 Vice 
President Gore and I met with a number of people and organizations 
concerned with the plight of the black farmer in this country, including 
the National Black Farmers Association, the Southern Cooperative, and 
the Congressional Black Caucus. The Vice President and I learned at that 
meeting that since the early 1980's, thousands of black farmers had 
filed complaints of discrimination against the United States Department 
of Agriculture (USDA), but their complaints were ignored.
    My administration has worked hard to improve the condition of the 
black farmer and to mend the relationship between black farmers and the 
USDA, and Secretary Dan Glickman and his staff have demonstrated 
unprecedented leadership in accomplishing that goal. After a group of 
African-American farmers brought suit in 1997 to seek recovery for years 
of discrimination, we worked with the African-American farming community 
to pass legislation allowing farmers to pursue those claims, and then 
entered into a historic settlement. With the agreement nearing full 
implementation, almost $500 million in individual payments have been 
awarded to nearly 12,000 African-American farmers. In the process, we 
revitalized USDA's Office of Civil Rights, which was effectively 
dismantled in the early 1980's. We have also increased farm loans to 
minorities and women--a 50 percent increase between 1997 and 1999 alone.
    The agreement between the black farmers and the USDA also calls for 
technical assistance and outreach. I am proud of the USDA and the 
Village Foundation for working in partnership to create the African-
American Family Farm Preservation Fund, which will provide grants, 
loans, and training to African-American farm families to maintain their 
farms, establish a market system using products produced by African-
American farms, and keep the public informed on issues related to 
African-American family farmers. In addition, USDA has cooperated with 
the National Black Farmers Association and its president, John Boyd, to 
increase outreach activities to limited-resource farmers. Together, 
these endeavors will ensure that a new generation of African-American 
farmers can pursue their livelihood without discrimination and with 
equal access to the assistance they deserve.
    Redressing the wrongs against African-American farmers has been key 
to my efforts to building one America. I hope the next administration 
will continue in this path so that African-American farmers can fully 
participate in today's dynamic global economy.

[[Page 206]]