A reasonable solution to an old, familiar problem seemed to have been found when African-American farmers settled a discrimination case against the Department of Agriculture in 1999.
Payments to individual farmers were expected to total some $2.3 billion.
But 87 percent of 94,000 farmers who sought restitution under the settlement haven't received a dime, according to an analysis by the Environmental Working Group.
Nearly 40 percent of approximately 23,000 farmers who were part of the original settlement have had their claims denied. Practically all of those who sought entry into the class after receiving word of the settlement have been rejected as well, according to the environmental group's report.
If the figures are accurate, the denial rate is too high to dismiss. But the case has run its course in the courts. The situation clearly calls for a Congressional investigation. [...]
| Continue the Memphis Commercial-Appeal's editorial "Black farmer bias case still unresolved'
posted in articles on July 25, 2004 2:30 AM | t (0)
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