A thread to @RogerMarshallMD: I listened to the legislative update you presented in McPherson April 8. At about the 7:45 mark of the Facebook Live portion, an audience member asked about the loan forgiveness program for Black farmers

You responded, loans would be forgiven at the 120% rate, then added for emphasis: “not 100%. 120%.”
While this is correct, you missed an opportunity to explain why this legislation is necessary. And I think you know the answer. If not, let me explain.

After the Civil War, families of freed slaves were given 40 acres of land, free and clear, from the federal government, in the southeast U.S. Later, these families were also given a mule, hence the oft-heard term, “40 acres and a mule.”

Within a few years, the land was taken away and given BACK TO THE VERY PEOPLE WHO OWNED THE PLANTATIONS WERE BLACKS WERE ENSLAVED. Blacks were still allowed to farm, but they became sharecroppers for plantation owners. You can imagine these were not good terms.

Fast forward to the establishment of USDA Farm Programs. Blacks were often left out of loan and cost-share programs, or had unattainable collateral provisions. USDA has a proven history of systemic prejudice and racism against Black farmers.

You’re no doubt aware of the Pigford lawsuits, and the piles of documents that prove this prejudicial behavior. (If not, let me point you to this series of articles.) https://www.agriculture.com/farm-management/farm-land/being-a-black-farmer-in-america

I agree with you that the current Minority Loan Forgiveness Program is a bad bill. But in glossing over why the bill was established in the first place, you’ve done a disservice to your constituents & avoided a conversation that brings fairness to a historically unfair program.