Oligarchic Spirit in US Agriculture
TL/DR –
The article discusses the history of racial injustice in American agriculture, which it claims is governed by an oligarchic system that favors a small elite while marginalizing certain groups, particularly Black farmers. It specifically traces this system back to the plantation era, highlighting the continued dominance of large agribusiness corporations and discriminatory practices such as inequitable federal programs and predatory lending. Despite recent legislative reforms, the article argues that structural barriers and concentrated power within the agricultural sector continue to limit opportunities for Black farmers and perpetuate cycles of exclusion and disempowerment.
An Examination of Racial Inequity in the U.S. Agricultural Landscape
Reflecting on the history of American agriculture, it’s clear that the sector has long been marked by racial disparities. This is a narrative presented in the work of Etienne C. Toussaint in his article, The Spirit of Oligarchy in American Agriculture, where he explores the experiences of Black farmers and the systemic challenges they face.
The Role of Oligarchy in Agriculture
Toussaint shares the story of John Boyd, Jr., a fourth-generation Black farmer from Virginia who purchased his first farm at the age of 18 in the 1980s. Boyd experienced first-hand the discriminatory practices at the local United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) office, a remnant of the age of Jim Crow laws.
Boyd’s experiences, according to Toussaint, are indicative of a broader pattern of oligarchic control in the agricultural sector. This oligarchical structure operates by maintaining a small, elite group in control of land, credit, and markets, wielding power over agricultural policy and governance, and essentially setting the tone for narratives about agricultural development and national identity.
From Slavery to Corporate Control
The systemic subordination of Black agricultural labor was critical to maintaining the antebellum plantation system, an oligarchy in itself. Following emancipation, the oligarchical structure persisted, adapting itself through legal and economic mechanisms that preserved concentrated power while adjusting to new political conditions. These measures extended to sharecropping, discriminatory lending practices, and inequitable federal programs that perpetuated a system of racial and economic domination.
The Decline of Black Ownership in Agriculture
In the 1920s, nearly a million Black farmers managed over sixteen million acres of land, making up about one-seventh of all U.S. farm operations. By the 1970s, however, systemic discrimination had resulted in a shocking 90% decline in Black farm ownership. In 1983, the Reagan administration’s decision to dissolve the USDA’s Office of Civil Rights Enforcement and Adjudication only served to exacerbate the situation. Even with numerous complaints of racial discrimination by the Farmers Home Administration, the USDA reportedly continued to overlook these grievances for fifteen years.
Addressing Historic Injustices: The Pigford Case
In 1997, Timothy Pigford, a Black farmer, filed a class action lawsuit against the USDA and then-Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, alleging that the USDA had systematically failed to address Black farmers’ civil rights complaints from 1983 to 1997. The case, Pigford v. Glickman, resulted in a landmark civil rights settlement with over $1 billion allocated to eligible claimants. However, the pursuit of justice proved problematic, with many Black farmers struggling to access relief and their compensation often falling short of addressing the deep-rooted injustices they had endured.
The Rise of Modern Agricultural Oligarchy
Today, Black farmers make up less than 2% of all farmers, and Black-owned farms account for just 0.4% of all U.S. farmland. This decline reflects both historical discrimination and the continued consolidation of power under the modern agricultural oligarchy. Significant barriers to equity today include the dominance of large agribusiness corporations controlling the food system. This concentration undermines the ability of small-scale and independent farmers, particularly Black and Indigenous farmers, to compete, access markets, and secure fair prices.
Moving Towards Reform: Recent Legislative Measures
Despite these socio-economic barriers, advocacy groups and progressive leaders continue to push for justice. In March 2021, President Joseph Biden introduced the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), representing a renewed federal attempt to redistribute power within American agriculture. However, this debt relief initiative quickly faced opposition from conservatives due to its race and ethnicity-based eligibility criteria.
As the U.S. continues to grapple with racial inequities in agriculture, this Essay by Toussaint provides a critical examination of the historical, legal, and policy dimensions of racial injustice in American agriculture. It underscores the need for policies that not only address historical wrongs but also adapt to the evolving landscape of discrimination.
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