A thread on how #covidrelief in @JoeBiden 's #americanrescueplan worked to counter generations of discrimination against Black-owned farms. #ncpol #northcarolina #covid19 #BlackLivesMatter

Last month the @USDA published a blog post saying, in part, that it recognizes socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers have faced systemic discrimination. #ncpol #northcarolina #covid19 #covidrelief #americanrescueplan #BlackLivesMatter

The @USDA (by its own admission) denied Black farmers and other farmers of color access to the same loan and grant programs that have helped white farmers to maintain and expand their farms for generations. #ncpol #northcarolina #BlackLivesMatter

Black farming peaked in the 1920s when Black farmers operated 1/7th of all farm operations in the United States.Through the 1950s, Black farming dwindled due to financial discrimination, violence, and intimidation. #ncpol #northcarolina #americanrescueplan #BlackLivesMatter

As of 2012, less than 2% of US farms were Black-owned. And in North Carolina, Black owners hold 3% of the state’s farms according to the most recent Census. #ncpol #northcarolina #covidrelief #covid19 #americanrescueplan #BlackLivesMatter

The @USDA blog post went on to describe how some of the disadvantages farmers face today like reduced farmland and climbing debt were exacerbated during the #covid19 pandemic. #ncpol #northcarolina #americanrescueplan #covidrelief #BlackLivesMatter

The #americanrescueplan, which was signed into law by @JoeBiden last month, addresses some of these systemic disadvantages by providing $4 billion in debt relief and over $1 billion to address long standing discrimination in the @USDA. #ncpol #covidrelief #BlackLivesMatter

Farmers like Donovan Watson of @PerkinsOrchard in Durham and Rodney Medley of Beehive Yourself in Fayetteville told us how this funding will pay dividends for disadvantaged farmers in NC. #ncpol #covidrelief #americanrescueplan #covid19 #BlackLivesMatter @ncnaacp

"It's a form of reparation." After generations of discrimination, Black North Carolina farmers talk to us about #covidrelief set aside for Black-owned farms in the #AmericanRescuePlan. #ncpol #BlackLivesMatter @POTUS @ncnaacp @mxwzy