It was Rosa Park’s birthday and hands that had farmed fields for years clapped as the founding president of the National Black Farmers Association said, “Discrimination didn’t just take place in the ‘40s when we were sharecroppers. Discrimination is taking place right now.”

John W. Boyd Jr.

John W. Boyd Jr. spoke to about 150 people who identified themselves as “black farmers” or supporters during a rally at the Westin Hotel on Monday. The rally, which almost was canceled because of snow and ice, had been moved from Handy Park.

For Boyd, Memphis was the next stop on a journey that will end in the nation’s capital on Feb. 15. He envisions his labor producing African-American farmers descending on Washington in numbers many may now think unimaginable.

At issue is $1.15 billion that President Obama has in the federal budget to fund discrimination claims. For the money to be dispersed, the funding proposal has to become part of a bill and made into law. Pressure must be applied, said Boyd.

The president, he said, is doing what he can do.

“We want the president to speak about the black farmer issue a little more. We want him to push a little more for the black farmers….We know he has a lot on his plate. We just want to send a friendly reminder, don’t forget your people.”

An African-American farmer signs in for the rally moved to the Westin Hotel after the weather forced a move from Handy Park. (Photo courtesy of the National Black Farmers Association)

Monday’s rally had the feel of a church service, with Boyd in the role of “minister.” He told the men and women his story of meeting then-Sen. Obama, who broke from the norm and listened to him for two hours when Boyd was pushing a bill designed to reopen the application process for a 1999 settlement between African American farmers and the U. S. Department of Agriculture, which was accused of denying African-Americans farmers credit and loans.

The deadline for participating in that settlement passed before many of the farmers applied.

“He said tell me about the discrimination,” Boyd recalls of the meeting with Sen. Obama. “Never had a U.S. Senator asked me to explain what discrimination was with the black farmers.”

Obama sponsored the bill along with then-Sen. (and now vice president) Joe Biden. It included $100 million to begin the process, said Boyd, miffed at subsequent efforts by the Justice Department and others to say that $100 million was a cap on payments.

Boyd reported movement on settlement talks and said the emphasis must be on getting the $1.5 billion proposal into position to become law. He urged those present to call their congressional representatives and to show up in Washington on Feb. 15, if at all possible.

L. C. Smith, who farmed for years in Northeast Shelby County, is not able to make the trip. Still, he said the cause is just.

“They  put me out of business. I couldn’t get no money. I couldn’t borrow a dime.

“That was in the 80’s, early part of the 90s. I had to call it quits. I couldn’t pay my lease on my land.”

Smith said he began farming about 1960. He had lots of kids and tried to improve his business. “The white guys were getting the money. I couldn’t get a dime…

“I just hope they will be fair with us and give us our money. We deserve it. I’ve been discriminated against. I’m familiar with this.”

Willie Woody, who farms in Grand Junction, said he plans to make the trip to Washington.

“Back there in the ‘60s, I went to Bolivar to get a loan to buy a farm and they said they wouldn’t give it to me. But then the white folks was goin’ in the back door and still getting’ applications in to get money.”

Woody, 67, said he started using a plow with his dad at about age 7. He has 13 acres, and oversees another 96.

Even if African Americans somehow pooled resources to help African American farmers, government backing still would be needed, he said.