Resource: Black Farmers FAQ: The history of discrimination against Black farmers and policy initiatives to remedy these inequities.

Black farmers have long faced systemic discrimination by public and private institutions and barriers to economic mobility. Inequities in the administration of government farm programs and discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture have had a devastating impact on rural communities of color. Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates there are roughly 40,000 Black farmers in America, owning less than one percent of our nation’s farmland as compared to roughly 95 percent of farmland owned by their white counterparts. Land dispossession and the unequal treatment of Black farmers have only widened the racial wealth gap and stymied intergenerational and community wealth building. Federal policies that uplift and support Black farmers and other historically marginalized groups are vital for the future of agriculture and the economic survival of rural communities of color. Addressing historical inequities requires strong federal policies that increase land ownership and ensure the economic self-sufficiency and sustainability of Black-owned farms. We’ve compiled an FAQ and timeline to help you learn more about the history of Black farmers and current efforts to support Black farmers.