By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare
Throughout Black American history, land ownership has represented the ultimate frontier of self-determination and freedom. From the broken promise of “40 acres and a mule” to decades of institutional discrimination by the USDA, Black farmers have waged an unrelenting war to hold onto their generational heritage.
Today, that struggle faces renewed peril. John Boyd Jr., the longtime activist and president of the National Black Farmers Association, is sounding the alarm over the severe exclusion Black agriculturalists face under the Trump administration.
After spending three decades securing historic settlements and policy access under previous administrations, Boyd reports a stark shift:
“It’s like night and day based on the treatment that we receive from this administration. This president clearly says he doesn’t want us.”
Boyd points out that canceled agricultural grants, foreign beef import policies, and complete exclusion from White House discussions have pushed struggling producers closer to foreclosure. Reflecting on past bipartisan policy wins, Boyd noted:
“I led the way on all of those efforts. And this administration came in and said, ‘Hey, Boyd, we can’t, we don’t even want you at the table.’”
Yet, as an activist who believes in holding all institutions accountable, Boyd’s critique does not stop at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He is challenging prominent Black leaders, the Congressional Black Caucus, athletes, and business elites for remaining largely silent while Black land disappears:
“We got athletes, boxers, tennis players, wealthy businessmen. Nobody’s picked up the phone and say, ‘Hey, Boyd, what can I do to help?’ That’s the kind of help I need right now.”
Boyd’s urgent call is rooted in historical resilience:
“We’re gonna survive Trump. We survived Jim Crow, we survived slavery and sharecropping… But the only way to get through it is to work together, in unity.”
If we are serious about Black empowerment and preserving our collective wealth, protecting Black farmland must be treated with the urgency it demands.
For Additional Information Use Links Below:
https://www.theroot.com/trump-pushed-black-farmers-away-from-the-table-john-bo-2000123181
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