Also this month:
* NC A&T School of Agriculture
Hosts U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
* Attention to Quality Makes
Norris Small Farmer of the Year
* NC A&T Program Breathes
Life into Durham Housing Community
* NC A&T School of Agriculture
Dean an Invited White House Advisor
* Gamma Sigma Delta Inducts
A&T Students
* Alpha Tau Alpha Inducts A&T
Students
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NC A&T School of Agriculture
Agricultural Communications
Mitch Arnold, news editor
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Greensboro, NC: Land loss, discrimination and paths
for the future were among the issues discussed during "Agriculture,
Technology and Trade: The Past, Present and Future of African Americans
in Agriculture," a colloquium led by students in the North Carolina
A&T School of Agriculture and scheduled in conjunction with the NC
A&T Cooperative Extension Program's 12th Annual Small Farms Week.
Former US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy and leaders from the Black
Farmers and Agriculturalists Association participated in the colloquium.
"Many people have already written off black farmers, but we haven't
lost hope," said Marcus Bernard, an agricultural economics major at
the NC A&T School of Agriculture. Bernard, a junior from Supply, NC,
was the event's chief organizer.
During a morning session, an audience of roughly 100 people listened to
Bernard and other speakers comment on land loss issues involving African
American farmers and discuss plans for future action.
In addition to Espy, Dr. B.D. Mayberry, retired dean of the School of Agriculture
at Tuskegee Institute and widely regarded as a major influence in the development
of historically black colleges and universities, provided his perspective
on race and agricultural issues to date.
According to Mayberry, historically black institutions are important to
society because of their unique perspectives.
"HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) are institutions
steeped in tradition, with a strong sense of purpose," said Mayberry.
"We responded to the needs of black farmers and other citizens years
ago, and we continue to respond to those needs today."
Former US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy then addressed the audience
with comments on his tenure with USDA and that organization's civil rights
problems.
"I'm shocked at what I've learned as a private attorney," said
Espy, who now represents disenfranchised farmers in addition to operating
an import/export business for agricultural commodities. "You can fight
weather and insects, but you shouldn't have to fight your government,"
he added.
A day before Espy's appearance on the NC A&T campus, Glickman served
as the keynote speaker for A&T's Small Farm's Day Luncheon, where he
reiterated his commitment to totally eliminating discriminatory practices
in USDA programs.
Though Espy acknowledged that discrimination has been a factor in the sharply
declining numbers of African-American owned farms, he said that discrimination
isn't the only factor.
"Generational disenchantment with life on the farm and the lure of
the big city are also contributing factors to declining numbers of black-owned
farms," said Espy, who urged those in the audience to work together
in finding solutions to problems confronting African-American farmers.
A panel discussion, involving both the national and state presidents of
the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association, as well as Mayberry,
Espy and Dr. Walter Hill, dean of the Tuskegee University College of Agricultural,
Environmental and Natural Sciences, and Dr. Daniel D. Godfrey, dean of
the NC A&T School of Agriculture, followed Espy's remarks.
During the discussion, Gary Grant, national president of the Black Farmers
and Agriculturalists Association, said that the independence of African
Americans depends on the right to vote, hold jobs and own land.
"A landless people is a helpless people," said Grant, who urged
those in the audience to work on convincing young people not to leave the
land.
L. C. Cooper, president of North Carolina's Black Farmers and Agriculturalists
Association, echoed Grant's comments and urged the audience to take responsibility
in addressing the issues.
"If you help yourself, someone will help you," said Cooper. "If
we put our efforts together, we can help shape the economy of the future.
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For more information, please contact Mitch Arnold, NC A&T School of
Agriculture, (336) 334-7049.
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