The USDA Coalition of Minority Employees was founded in 1994 to address discrimination within the United States Department of Agriculture. The biggest coalition accomplishment thus far is the passing of the American Rescue Plan from President Joe Biden in 2021 which creates a multi-billion dollar fund for socially disadvantaged farmers throughout the United States. The coalition has worked alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker to create the Justice for Black Farmers Act, which will go on to give even more aid to socially disadvantaged farmers.
June 2, 2021
Secretary Thomas Vilsack
Attention: Chief of Staff, Katherine Ferguson
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
Secretary Vilsack:
We wish to acknowledge your presence last Friday morning along with key USDA personnel Katherine Ferguson, Chief of Staff; Dr. Dewayne Goldmon, Senior Advisor for Racial Equity; and Monica Rainge, Esq., Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Civil Rights (OASCR); David Grahn, acting General Counsel; Chris French, Associate Deputy Chief, Forest Service/Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Conservation; and perhaps others. We hope that this is the first of an ongoing series of meetings between you, your staff, and representatives from the USDA Coalition of Minority Employees and the Justice for Black Farmers Group.
We were dismayed and disappointed by several things: 1) we were not informed as to the length of the meeting; 2) we were informed of the mode of technology at the last minute, i.e., 7:37 pm EST on the day prior; 3) the shift in technology from Zoom to Microsoft Teams proved problematic for some of our rural farmers; 4) we did not have sufficient time to ask our questions nor have our questions answered; and 5) misleading information was provided by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
We are of the opinion that good leadership begins by asking questions. As we had previously stated in our letter to President Biden on May 11, 2020 and our correspondence with you and your office on May 12, 2021, we had a list of issues and concerns for us to discuss. Given the meeting’s brevity and focus, we were not able to present them. We did, however, appreciate Ms. Ferguson and Dr. Goldmon extending the meeting by an additional 15 minute per our persistence. Because of our insistence to get questions answered, we were told by your Chief of Staff to email our concerns. The courtesy of an additional meeting time was refused.
We were obviously concerned regarding debt relief, and your team managed that well; however, we remain disturbed that this process is apparently going to be complicated and lengthy, prolonging the economic suffering of Black farmers. We were also deeply disturbed by the report from Deputy Assistant Secretary Rainge. She stated that OCR does not have a backlog of cases. This does not explain the enormous number of civil rights complaints that have been in her office for decades. As we stated, historically the USDA’s Office of Civil Rights has been called “a closing machine.” We have no evidence to suggest the contrary. In fact, several farmers on the call currently have ongoing cases within OCR. We are led to believe, then, that Deputy Assistant Secretary Rainge was providing us false information. Based on her response, we are also not convinced that there is indeed a “fire-wall” between OGC and OASCR as stated by Deputy Assistant Secretary Rainge.
Our concerns go beyond debt relief. The major purpose of the meeting was what the Secretary’s plans were to address the decades of systemic discrimination at USDA that harms especially Black farmers and USDA employees. Many of the items that were offered during the Secretary’s presentation do not get to the solution/resolution of the many systemic concerns that we had previously addressed in our communications. Recent reports and investigative news articles confirm our allegations of continued widespread racism and other abuses at USDA. For clarification, we were also concerned about cases that were not processed timely and are still sitting at USDA. And we clearly expressed our concern about the county committee system that still inflicts pain and suffering on Black farmers.
Accountability, transparency, and other matters are found within The Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2021 and could easily be enacted under your leadership. There are many other matters that we have and, therefore, we respectfully request a follow-up meeting with you or your top staff. A half hour is by far an inappropriate amount of time to resolve our issues and concerns.
In short, the meeting left us frustrated, disappointed, and insulted. We believe we can be allies in the effort to root out racism at USDA.
We are extremely proud of the work our Coalition put into the passage of Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock’s bill, “Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act of 2021,” and Senator Cory Booker’s legislation, “The Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2021” and should not be penalized by USDA for it. Please remember it was the Biden/Harris transition team that you headed up that told us that debt relief for Black farmers was "unconstitutional."
Silence is not an option for us……
Respectfully,
Lawrence Lucas, President Emeritus
USDA Coalition of Minority Employees
Representative, Justice for Black Farmers Group
www.agcoalition.org
LawrLCL@aol.com
856-910-2399
Secretary Thomas Vilsack
Attention: Chief of Staff, Katherine Ferguson
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
Secretary Vilsack:
We wish to acknowledge your presence last Friday morning along with key USDA personnel Katherine Ferguson, Chief of Staff; Dr. Dewayne Goldmon, Senior Advisor for Racial Equity; and Monica Rainge, Esq., Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Civil Rights (OASCR); David Grahn, acting General Counsel; Chris French, Associate Deputy Chief, Forest Service/Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Conservation; and perhaps others. We hope that this is the first of an ongoing series of meetings between you, your staff, and representatives from the USDA Coalition of Minority Employees and the Justice for Black Farmers Group.
We were dismayed and disappointed by several things: 1) we were not informed as to the length of the meeting; 2) we were informed of the mode of technology at the last minute, i.e., 7:37 pm EST on the day prior; 3) the shift in technology from Zoom to Microsoft Teams proved problematic for some of our rural farmers; 4) we did not have sufficient time to ask our questions nor have our questions answered; and 5) misleading information was provided by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
We are of the opinion that good leadership begins by asking questions. As we had previously stated in our letter to President Biden on May 11, 2020 and our correspondence with you and your office on May 12, 2021, we had a list of issues and concerns for us to discuss. Given the meeting’s brevity and focus, we were not able to present them. We did, however, appreciate Ms. Ferguson and Dr. Goldmon extending the meeting by an additional 15 minute per our persistence. Because of our insistence to get questions answered, we were told by your Chief of Staff to email our concerns. The courtesy of an additional meeting time was refused.
We were obviously concerned regarding debt relief, and your team managed that well; however, we remain disturbed that this process is apparently going to be complicated and lengthy, prolonging the economic suffering of Black farmers. We were also deeply disturbed by the report from Deputy Assistant Secretary Rainge. She stated that OCR does not have a backlog of cases. This does not explain the enormous number of civil rights complaints that have been in her office for decades. As we stated, historically the USDA’s Office of Civil Rights has been called “a closing machine.” We have no evidence to suggest the contrary. In fact, several farmers on the call currently have ongoing cases within OCR. We are led to believe, then, that Deputy Assistant Secretary Rainge was providing us false information. Based on her response, we are also not convinced that there is indeed a “fire-wall” between OGC and OASCR as stated by Deputy Assistant Secretary Rainge.
Our concerns go beyond debt relief. The major purpose of the meeting was what the Secretary’s plans were to address the decades of systemic discrimination at USDA that harms especially Black farmers and USDA employees. Many of the items that were offered during the Secretary’s presentation do not get to the solution/resolution of the many systemic concerns that we had previously addressed in our communications. Recent reports and investigative news articles confirm our allegations of continued widespread racism and other abuses at USDA. For clarification, we were also concerned about cases that were not processed timely and are still sitting at USDA. And we clearly expressed our concern about the county committee system that still inflicts pain and suffering on Black farmers.
Accountability, transparency, and other matters are found within The Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2021 and could easily be enacted under your leadership. There are many other matters that we have and, therefore, we respectfully request a follow-up meeting with you or your top staff. A half hour is by far an inappropriate amount of time to resolve our issues and concerns.
In short, the meeting left us frustrated, disappointed, and insulted. We believe we can be allies in the effort to root out racism at USDA.
We are extremely proud of the work our Coalition put into the passage of Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock’s bill, “Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act of 2021,” and Senator Cory Booker’s legislation, “The Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2021” and should not be penalized by USDA for it. Please remember it was the Biden/Harris transition team that you headed up that told us that debt relief for Black farmers was "unconstitutional."
Silence is not an option for us……
Respectfully,
Lawrence Lucas, President Emeritus
USDA Coalition of Minority Employees
Representative, Justice for Black Farmers Group
www.agcoalition.org
LawrLCL@aol.com
856-910-2399
Message From the President
Members and Supporters:
This is a pivotal period for our members and supporters nationwide. As individuals we can choose to disagree with both past and new leadership and label them based on past performance. However, the Coalition is a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic organization and therefore, must always base all actions on facts, as they exist today - - - not emotions.
We must continue being proactive in keeping civil rights issues on the radar screen, if we are to succeed in changing a long existing culture of racism, sexism, reprisal, and hostile work environment for those who speak out. Coalition members must take advantage of each and every opportunity to change the status quo. One method of doing so is to write your elected officials - - - local, state and federal to request their support. It is within your constitutional rights to do so. We can work with anyone to break the cycle of discrimination at the USDA. However, if we are to achieve our many objectives, we must be consistent, persistent and unified, as we have done while under siege.
The way we respond to the coming challenges will shape opinions and determine our future successes. Working together to gain the support of the new administration will expedite achieving of our goal- - - to bring about justice, fairness and a reprisal free workplace. There will be no change at the USDA without pain, suffering and sacrifice. We must right the wrongs and continued injustices perpetrated against those we represent - - - people of color, women, persons with disabilities and others.
The Coalition continues to support you - - - and we must continue to support each other!
Sincerely,
//S//
LAWRENCE C. LUCAS
President, USDA Coalition of Minority Employees
Phone: (856) 910-2399
VISION
A USDA that is a true reflection of America, that builds on its
strengths and diversity, where all employees are valued and allowed to grow in
an atmosphere of mutual respect.
A USDA that uses its resources to ensure a fair and equitable
workplace dedicated to excellence and a work environment committed to civil and
human rights.
"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who
accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it".
_Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends." -
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Members and Supporters:
This is a pivotal period for our members and supporters nationwide. As individuals we can choose to disagree with both past and new leadership and label them based on past performance. However, the Coalition is a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic organization and therefore, must always base all actions on facts, as they exist today - - - not emotions.
We must continue being proactive in keeping civil rights issues on the radar screen, if we are to succeed in changing a long existing culture of racism, sexism, reprisal, and hostile work environment for those who speak out. Coalition members must take advantage of each and every opportunity to change the status quo. One method of doing so is to write your elected officials - - - local, state and federal to request their support. It is within your constitutional rights to do so. We can work with anyone to break the cycle of discrimination at the USDA. However, if we are to achieve our many objectives, we must be consistent, persistent and unified, as we have done while under siege.
The way we respond to the coming challenges will shape opinions and determine our future successes. Working together to gain the support of the new administration will expedite achieving of our goal- - - to bring about justice, fairness and a reprisal free workplace. There will be no change at the USDA without pain, suffering and sacrifice. We must right the wrongs and continued injustices perpetrated against those we represent - - - people of color, women, persons with disabilities and others.
The Coalition continues to support you - - - and we must continue to support each other!
Sincerely,
//S//
LAWRENCE C. LUCAS
President, USDA Coalition of Minority Employees
Phone: (856) 910-2399
VISION
A USDA that is a true reflection of America, that builds on its
strengths and diversity, where all employees are valued and allowed to grow in
an atmosphere of mutual respect.
A USDA that uses its resources to ensure a fair and equitable
workplace dedicated to excellence and a work environment committed to civil and
human rights.
"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who
accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it".
_Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends." -
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Alliances
