Rooted in the Land. Driven by Justice.
For three decades the National Black Farmers Association has fought discrimination, preserved Black-owned soil, and opened doors to the next generation of growers.
Our Mission
NBFA empowers Black farmers through advocacy, legal aid, education, and economic opportunity.
Every program, policy brief, and field day moves us toward a single goal: land equity for every Black family that wants to farm.
Who We Serve
Black Farmers & Ranchers – from one-acre market gardens to 1,000-acre row-crop operations.
Aspiring Growers – youth, veterans, and career-switchers seeking land access and training.
Allies & Advocates – partners who amplify our voice and invest in land equity.
LEADERSHIP
President and Founder of the NBFA John W. Boyd, Jr.
John W. Boyd Jr. is a fourth generation farmer and a civil rights activist. He was born in Queens, New York on September 4, 1965. He has been featured in The Washington Post, "60 Minutes," "Nightline," CNN and as ABC News Tonight's "Person of the Week." He is a past nominee for the NAACP's highest honor, The Springarn Award, and currently ranks as one of Ebony Magazine's most influential African-Americans.
In 1995, Boyd founded the National Black Farmers Association after encountering the US Department of Agriculture's discriminatory practices first-hand and meeting many more black farmers who shared this experience. Boyd soon led NBFA members in a march on the White House. He went on to meet with President Clinton and to testify before Congress. The plight of black farmers had caught the nation's attention, but Boyd's pursuit of justice continues to this day. In addition to his work with NBFA and as an organizer of the Fairness Now for Black Farmers rallies, Boyd has served in many leadership roles:
2009, Appointed by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell to serve on his Agriculture transition team;
2009, Vetted by President Obama’s transition team as a candidate for Secretary of Agriculture;
2005, Appointed by then-Virginia Governor-elect Tim Kaine to serve as co-chair of his
Policy Committee on Agriculture and Forestry during the transition period;
2005, Recipient of the Legacy of Excellence “Keeper of the Flame” Award;
2000, Appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve on his administration's tobacco commission;
2000, Democratic nominee for election to Virginia's 5th Congressional District;
1999, Appointed by then-Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore to serve on the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission;
Kara Brewer Boyd
Vice President
Policy strategist, Indigenous land-rights champion.
STILL NOT SURE?
Frequently Asked Questions
Black Farmers, USDA Discrimination & the Ongoing Fight for Justice
What kind of discrimination did Black farmers face from the USDA?
For decades, many Black farmers were denied federal loans, disaster relief, and other subsidies that white farmers routinely received. Without this support, thousands lost both their land and their homes.
Why was a class-action lawsuit filed against the USDA?
Starting in 1997, Black farmers from across the country joined a federal class action to force the USDA to admit and remedy its discriminatory practices.
What is Pigford v. Glickman and why is it important?
In 1999 the federal court approved a settlement in Pigford v. Glickman that recognized discrimination against 22,363 Black farmers—then the largest civil-rights settlement in U.S. history, valued at $2 billion+.
Didn’t the settlement fix everything?
No. 70,000+ farmers were left out, payments were delayed, and many cases were mishandled. Subsequent GAO reports, congressional hearings, and NBFA advocacy revealed ongoing problems and “willful obstruction” inside the USDA and DoJ.
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