Building a National Black Agriculture Action Agenda
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~ Rosa Parks Day ~
Centennial Celebration Kickoff
Monday, February 6, 2012
Chocolate, Wine and Roses
Queen of Sheba
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sacramento, California
Rosa Parks and Congressman John Conyers
by Khubaka, Michael Harris
Project Director, Rosa Parks Day in California
On February 4, 1913 Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was born from the"Red Clay Soil" near a place called Pine Level, in the Great State of Alabama, Roll Tide, Roll... a magical place...
On Monday, February 6, 2012, 11:30 a.m.,on the West Steps of the California State Capitol, we celebrate our 12th Annual, California Rosa Parks Day Celebration ~ and begin preparations for year long eventsat ourChocolate, Wine and Roses,InternationalCelebrations for Rosa Parks, beginning Monday, February 6, 2012, Queen of Sheba Resturant, 1704 Broadway, Sacramento, CA, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Beginning February 2000, official recognition of Rosa Parks Day in California was championed by then California Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, today President of the Los Angeles City Council, we celebrate his visionary leadership.
Inter-modal transportation systems throughout the entire State of California is the backbone of the 9th largest economy on earth and new innovation is essential to future growth and development.
2012 U.N. International Year of Cooperatives, we continue to build support towards achieving equity and equality opportunity throughout our California Transportation System, while working cooperatively throughout the world.
In the tradition of Rosa Parks, we are proud to share our extensiveBlack Agriculture heritage that connects Classical African Civilization, through the Black Warrior River Basin of Alabama to the Central Valley of California, the Greatest Garden in the World resting firmly upon her African Methodist Episcopalian faith in the creator of all things.
Rosa Louise McCauley was greatly influenced by her parents Leona and James McCauley and her grandparents Rose and Sylvester Edwards who helped stabilize the young family in the difficult days of "Jim Crow laws" that allowed terrorism of people of African descent throughout America.
Rosa's mother was a schoolteacher who taught "Ag in the classroom" and cultivated her favorite vegetables broccoli, collard greens, sweet potatoes and string beans in the family kitchen garden just outside of Tuskegee, Alabama.
The origins of the name Alabama comes from a rough translation "herb gathers" from indigenous languages in the Tombigbee River Basin, Black Warrior River Valley, Alabama, part of a larger ancient civilization of "Mound Builders," reaching back well over 5000 years of ancient civilization within Washitaw Proper.
The broader Mississippi River Basin became part of the "Louisiana Purchase," nearly 1/3 of the entire continental United States, acquired in 1803 from the Emperor of the French, Napoleon Bonaparte, who earlier was given authorization to the land claim fromSpanish authority.
After fall of the Ole Spanish Port at Mobile Bay in 1814, the path toward becoming a U.S. territory as clearand became the State of Alabama, affectionately known as the "Heart of Dixie;ratified byCongress in 1819, our 23rd State.
In 1823,the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decisionwhich stated that "Indians" could occupy lands within the United States, but could not hold title to those lands, only white men could holdtitlein most of America.
This is the legal foundation and ongoing belief fundamental to disenfranchisement of Indigenous populations and people of African Descent attempting to retain vast acres of land throughout the United States of America, by 1830, President Andrew Jackson established an official U.S government policy called the "Indian Removal Act."
Indigenous populations and people of African descent continue to call it the "Trail of Tears and Death," a forced removal from the land and destruction of cultural ways, many people were relocated and remain in the Oklahoma Territory.
Aftertaking ancestral lands and establishing "King Cotton" on the back of enslaved human beings, and destroying ancient civilizations of antiquity, U.S. Agriculture industries flourished globally as our nation slipped into Civil War.
Jefferson Davis, a West Point Graduate, Mississippi Senator and a U.S. Secretary of War, was elected President of the Confederate States of America and fought bravely to retain slavery throughout the lands of the deep south.
Today, members of Congress mark the Sesquicentennial of creation of the United States Department of Agriculture and the Sesquicentennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, as the salient primary source documentation as we prepare forCentennial Celebrationof Rosa Parks, February 2013.
Montgomery, Alabama, the original capitol of the Confederate States of America, was thecitythatRosa Parks answered her date with eternity, the Womens Political Caucus first supported and organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott, by mobilizing mass community action, NAACP support and nurturing a 26 year oldminister, the Honorable Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Together, aftera year of a successful economicboycott and expert legal challenges, they changed the world and renewed the promise and intent of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.
Earlier, the historic Tuskegee Institute Airman, trained at nearby Maxwell Air Force Base to facilitate integration of air transportation systems during World War II, greatly assisted by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Today, seen through the prismof Hollywood cinema, the coming feature film "Red Tails" may illustrate the origin of the journey towards a cooperative, inclusive and equitable U.S. Transportation system, essential to maintaining our leading place in global trade and commerce, starting from the Red Clay of Alabama.
Many were reminded by President Barack Obama in his January 2009 Inauguration Day Parade when a "Rosa Parks Bus" lead the entire parade on a cold, crisp winter's morning.
California and U.S. Transportation officials are beginning to recognize Rosa Parks Day and the broader contributions of people of African descent to ourinter-modal transportation systems essential to sustaining a vibrant U.S. economy.
2012 Rosa Parks Day in California, we pause to reflect upon our United Nations "International Year for Cooperatives... during our annual celebration of the ongoing legacy of "Dear Rosa," by remembering her example of quiet dignity, unshakeable faith and fearless courage this special season of new beginnings.
~ 30 ~
Kwanzaa
~ 45th Anniversary ~
"Our California Grown"
Black Agriculture Celebration
Dr. Maulana Karenga
Kwanzaa is a special time to reinforce your connectedness and Celebration of yourAfrican cultural heritage
to think deeply about how the seven principles applyto your daily life and how you teach your Children.
Agriculture is the Foundation of Black Culture, globally...
Sacramento, California ~ Khubaka, Michael Harris
For 45 years, Kwanzaa is a growing living, active, social practice.
Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in the aftermath of the Watts uprising in Los Angeles, California, utilzing the best of ancient African traditions and appropriate modern technology.
While correcting her son Marquette Frye, Mother Frye, at the hands of LAPD, was reportedly knocked to the ground, setting off a sequence of events that continues to provide a shinning light of healing from personal chaos andmasscommunity destruction.
The 1960's, remains an amazing decade of revolutionary change throughout America and the world.
In an American context, from 1760's to 1960's people of African descentwere treated largely as non-human beings by law and by 1860, official U.S. Supreme Court law, ruled the land,enslaved or free, the Black man has no rights the White man is bound to respect. Lest we forget the amazing journey towards freedom...
Through generations of physical bondage, bloody sacrafice and strategic collective action, people of African descent along with supporters of all cultural backgrounds have fostered a more perfect union, indeed change continues to come,in America.
Clearly, the struggle for freedom equality andour own self-identity in America began long ago with the very first captured African human beings enslaved, disenfranchised and dehumanized. Today, a multilevel challenge to heal from the inside out, remains for a people disconnected from the source. Kwanzaa provides a consistent methodology.
Growing up as a Black Farmerin Maryland, Dr. Karengaremains inspired by the agricultural harvest festivals in Africa and he re-created a similar festival for America.
He and his wife Tiamoyo arevery active, working in the vineyard and utilizing the gifts that have been given unto them,amazing scholars with few peers on planet earth, in my humble opinion.
Kwanzaa, is derived from the Kiswahili (East African language) phrase, "matunda ya kwanza," which means "honoring the first fruits of the harvest" and the first celebration occured on December 26, 1966, Santa Monica, California.
Many people practice the principles of Kwanzaa year-round and other families or community groups will set up a table or alter decorated with the essential symbols that represent the reinforce the principles of Kwanzaa:
The Mkeka is a straw mat onto which all of the other objects will be placed. The Mkeka symbolizes the experiences and traditions of our ancestors, which forms the foundation on which our own lives are built.
Kinara is a candleholder that represents the original African foundation from which the world population owes a great debt and holds the Mishumaa Saba.
Mishumaa Saba are the seven candles which represent the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) and are held by the Kinara. The colors of the candles are red, green and black and sit in the Kinara in the following order from left to right: three red, one black and three green. One candle is lit each night of Kwanzaa starting with the black, symbolizing unity and then alternating between the red and green candles, beginning with the red.
Mazoa are the fruits and vegetables placed in a basket and set up on the table to be shared. They are eaten in honor of Black Agriculturalists and others who cultivate the land to produce the bounty of the harvest.
Muhindi, or corn, is placed on the table for each child in the household. If there are no children in the household, one Muhindi is still added to represent the children and future of our community.
Kikombe cha Umoja is the unity cup and represents family and community unity. Once filled with water, a measure is poured out in honor and remembrance of our ancestors and signifigant people in our lives who positively impacted our growth.
The Zawadi are educational gifts or heritage symbols to help make us better people by committing ourselves to think good thoughts, acts,and behavior which will, in turn,benefit the community. "heritage symbol" reminding the children of the past and the future.
Each evening or dayduring Kwanzaa, the family or community will gather to light a candle, pray, sing, and discuss the day'shighlighted principle of the Nguzo Saba, 7 principles:
Umoja means unity. It is a principle to strive for in the family, community, nation and race.
Kujichagulia means self-determination. It represents the responsibility to create our own destiny.
Ujima means collective work and responsibility. It is the commitment to building the community together and to solving one another's problems together.
Nia means purpose. It is the goal of restoring African-American people toour original greatness, being responsible to both our ancestors and our descendants.
Ujamaa means collective economics. It is the idea of building and maintaining our own businesses and profiting from them.
Kuumba means creativity. Creativity must be used to constantly improve one's community and leave it better than it was in the past.
Imani means faith. It is believing in ourselves, our families, our educators and, the righteousness of the African-American struggle.
The highlight for the Agriculture based holiday is the Karamu, a feast held on the sixth night (December 31), that brings families and communities together to give thanks to the Creator for their accomplishments during the year.
This feast includes a meaningful ceremony followed by lots of eating, drinking, dancing and, Zawadi, practical gift giving that reinforces the principles of Kwanzaa.
Although the holiday is marked by seven specific days in the year, Kwanzaa is an introduction to a way of life, an expression of being of African descent in the world.
The seven principles should be woven into the every day lives of African-Americans of all ages in order to help us understand the significance ofour past and build towards the future, united in the strength of our people, one aim, one people with one destiny.
Western Region
Black Agriculture Summit
December 8-11, 2011
Black Agriculture producers, once nearly 15% of all U.S. Agriculture producers are todayclose to 1% of all U.S. Agriculture producers.
The journey continues to restore Agriculture as the Foundation of Black Culture, the path is narrow, difficult and dangerous, yet essential.
Today, new possibilities for global equity and equal opportunityare on full display in Oakland, California our West Coastregional hub for the National Black Agriculture Action Agenda.
"Faith to Farm Sunday" will help to identify the faith-based leaders to embrace anew way forward, returning to the "Garden of Eden" for guidance today to feed the black community, nationwide.
Everyone is welcome in the spirit of faith and unity.
Port of Oakland, CaliforniaThe California Central Valleyis considered The Garden of the World and remains the #1 Ag region of the modern world. Black Agriculture in the California Gold Rush (1840 - 1865) will focusour past unique contribution to the forward flow of humanity toward a renaissance of agriculture as the foundation of Black culture.Oakland, California remains a major international transportation hub, "our Ellis Island for people of African Ancestry in the West,"is arapidly expanding Asian Pacific Agriculture marketplace andWest coast hub for our National Black Agriculture Action Agenda.Exciting new opportunities gained byhard fought battleswithin the 2008 Farm Billhelped to facilitate A New Day at the USDA.USDA~Community Based Partnerships has given way to a USDA Co-Operators processpoised for amazing quantifiable growth and opportunity for Black Agriculture producers, globally.Our Faith to Farm initiative will showcase ourfaith-based scientific methodology for job creation and career opportunities by utilizing cultural identification, technical education and economic development showcasing the "Parable inthe Vineyard."Federal District Court Judge Friedman has ruled that Pigford II claimants will receive up to 1.25 billion dollars of compensation for past discrimination.The clock for the 6 month period to submit a Pigford II claim began November 14, 2011 and ends May 11, 2012.Successful claimants must prepare today for new opportunities and should expect payments of up to 1 billion and 250 million dollars before Black History Month 2013.Today, we monitor service delivery and continue to build active USDA collaborative partnerships for effective advocacy and outreach throughout the global agriculture industry.We seek bipartisan political support to expand international agribusiness networks to highlight opportunities for Black Agriculture, globally.Our Pan African ~ California Trade and Commerce symposium will expand essential cultural relationships that prepare a new generation of Black Agriculturalists for global opportunities.Every day we talk to new entrepreneurs, families, and individuals committed to implementing Healthy Solutions in their careers and personal lives, states Tanikka Cunningham co-founder of the Washington D.C. based Healthy Solutions Group."During our three day conversation, the 2011 Black Agriculture Summit: we will explore how we arrived at this amazing new opportunity; connect our past, present and future; honor our ancestors and preparing positive way for future generations, states Michael Harris, co-chair of the 2011 Black Agriculture Summit.A 3 day Full Summit Pass at 2011 Black Agriculture Summit is a budget friendly price of $100.00 per person, while many events remain free and open to the public.Black Agriculture Summit will bring together local, national and international leaders: including socially responsible businesses and community organizations toward building a strong foundation for implementation of ourNational Black Agriculture Action Agenda.
Black Agriculture Summitt 2011 ~ Oakland, CaliforniaThursday, December 8, 2011California State Capitol ~ Public Policy ConversationCalifornia Pan-AfricanAgriculture Trade and CommerceLunch
Queen of Sheba Restaurant1704 Broadway, Sacramento, CaliforniaBlack Agriculture Summit Community ForumCalifornia Endowment ~ State Capitol1414 K Street
Suite 500
Sacramento, California1:30 p.m. ~ 3:30 p.m.Friday, December 9, 20118:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Blackagriculture Summit Workshops
California Endowment ~ Conference Room
1111 Broadway, 7th Floor
Downtown Oakland, California
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Art and Agriculture Business Mixer
Joyce Gordon Gallery
406 14th Street
Downtown Oakland, California
Saturday, December 10, 2011
California Ag Education and Agri-Tourism ~Highlightingsite visits toBlack Agriculture Farmers and RanchersSunday, December 11, 2011"Faith to Farm Sunday" ~ National Black Church Consultation
http://thecnbc.org/Full Summit Registration $100.00
Blackagriculture [at] yahoo.comBlack Agriculture Awareness Week
July 8 - July 14, 2012
Creating New Opportunities: Awareness, Education, Job Creation, Career Development, Outreach, and Volunteerism
What is Black Ag Awareness Week?
Black Agriculture Awareness Week is a week set aside to recognize and celebrate Black Agriculture, while bringing awareness to the needs and the decline of Black Agricultural Producers; as well as focus attention on the African American community reguarding food and food choices
When Is Black Ag Awareness Week?
Black Ag Awareness Week is celebratedJuly 8, 2012 -July 14, 2012 honoringGeorge Washington Carver's Birthday.
Who Hosts Black Ag Awareness Week?
Healthy Solutions hosts the national campaign. However, the awareness efforts in individual communities across America are as influential - if not more influential - than the broad-scale effort.A planning Guide and Toolkits will be produced to allow for communities the opportunity to host events in celebration of this vital week.
Healthy Solutions also partners with several organizations and businesses nationally that work to make this week happen.
What Is Black Ag Awareness Week All About?
Black Ag Awareness Week is about recognizing, educating, and celebrating the contribution of African Americans, and People of African Descent, to agriculture in our everyday lives.The National Black Ag Awareness Week encourages everyone to:
Understand how the decline in Black Agricultural Producers is an issue that needs immediate attention.
Educate youth to want to pursue Agriculture as a viable option to build a foundation for themselves and communities.
Appreciate the many agriculturally related accomplishments that benefit not just black agricultural producers, but agriculture as a whole, and impact us on a daily basis.
Bring awareness to food and agricultural issues in the African American community as a whole
Why Celebrate Black Agriculture?
Why not?! Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear, but few people truly recognize or understand the part that Black producers, scientist, chemist, and African Americans in general have played to make Global Agriculture what it is today. Oftentimes we see pictures of farms and food and the true picture of Black Agriculture is not represented.We feel there is no better time to celebrate those who paved the way for agriculture in the US while educating our people, and bringing awareness to the fact that black farmers may soon become extinct if we do not act now by educating and training our youth, and our communities to pursue agriculture.
The saying that there is No Culture Without Agriculture will become truer than ever as Black Agriculture will become extinct without immediate action and the awareness brought about by weeks set aside to insure that a culture, food, farmers, land, and heritage will not be lost.
What Can I Do to Help?
Get involved! Your participation in Black Ag Awareness Weekis critical in helping us spread this message about black agriculture. If you are interested in planning an event contact us today.Of course, there are other ways you can lend your support, including sending a letter to your local newspaper, sponsoring outreach activities, volunteering on local black farms, hosting educational events with our toolkit, hosting a Black AgricultureCommunity Market Day, advocating for your local store to feature food from a Black Producer for this week, hosting a day of Prayer and Healing Day at your place of Worship, calling your Congressional representative, providing in-kind donations to get the word out or simply purchasing from Black Producers this week.
Where Can I Find More Information?
Contact the Healthy Solutions at (888) 415-2667, our website www.SaveBlackFarmers.org
Rosa Parks Day: Unmet Transportation Needs
International Year for People of African Descent
by Khubaka, Michael Harris
Sacramento, CA ~ Rosa Parks is our Modern Day Mother of the Civil Rights Movement in America.
Rosais lovinglyreflected inthe sweet scent of our U.S. National Flower andsharp thornin the stem of our unique crimson tide red rose.
We are humbled by the honor to lead a team effort that continues to build a strong tradition for Rosa Parks Day in California. Since 2000, building upon the work of Assemblymember Herb Wesson andCA Secretary of State Bill Jones, wecontinue to celebrate with officialCalifornia recognitionthe first Monday,after her birthday February 4, this year February 7, 2011, Rosa Parks Day.
Together, we seek to nurture with diligence and consistency, expanding implementation of U.S. Transportation public policy of equity and equal opportunity that impacts global logistics, trade and commerce, in the historic West Florida traditionalongthe Black Warrior River Basin of Alabama, long before U.S. aquisition of the State of Alamaba.
Centuries of ongoing battles towards tangible equity and equal opportunity throughout the U.S. Transportation industry is clearly on global display with the California High Speed Rail Authority.
Estimated at well over 75 billion dollars over the next decade, the California High Speed Rail Authority is probably the largest public transportation project in America.
Ongoing legal and ethical challenges to implement a fully open and competitive procurement system currently allocating billions of dollars of tax payers resources is a natural escalation of the historic transportation public policy battles along the Barbary Coast of California.
Queen Califia, Mammy Pleasant, Biddy Mason, Sylvia Starks, Nancy Gouch, Mary Sugg and many other examples of women of resolve, provide the essential creative feminine spiritual foundation upon which wecelebratethe legacy of Rosa Parks, yes, shewas arrested and jailed for refusing to give up her seat to a white man in the colored section in the back of the bus.
In authentic context, it remainsa profoundsingular peaceful protest, an example of how one women, our fine, sweet, butter pecan sista of African descent,"set it off."
That December 1 spark, created a chain of events that forever changedinterstate transportation, school desegregation and contracting authority for small, minority and women-owned transportation relatedbusinesses, globally.
2011 Rosa Parks Day, we will join President Barak Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama and spotlight global attention to our transformative U.S. Transportation legacy icon.
The legacy of Rosa Parkscontinues to reduce the disparity gaps of equity and equal opportunity throughout all aspects ofsociety.
Today, we have a wonderful new direction with our White House Council on Women and Girls, empowering women of all age, ethnic background, religion, sexual preference... pure feminine energy.
Yet, some U.S. Congress members seem ready to the values and beliefs of 1955 Alabama where a white man would demand a black women to get up out of a seat federallyfunded with tax payerresources and/or seek to restrict contracting authority for job creation and career developmentin majority minority communities throughout America, simply amazing rhetoric, and very serious.
Bipartisan congressional action continues to reduce gender inequality because it it good public policy in a democracy to continue to strive toward equality with the majority population.
More than a few transportationleadersdo notrecall that it was the Rosa Parks Historic bus leading President Barack Obamas Inauguration Parade and his first act as Commander in Chief was the signing the Lilly Ledbetter Act, authorizing equal pay for equal work for men and women, this is a new beginning worthy of celebration.
"Clearly, people of African descent are no longer legally required to pay the fare, step off the bus and board the bus from the rear. Progressive transportation industry leaders continue to be central to the struggle for civil and human rights throughout America and beyond, states Michael Harris, agribusiness consultant and public policy analyst based in Sacramento, CA."
Many residents in our Sacramento poor and socially disadvantaged communities are being left behind in regional Green Job and Careers development because of dismal public transit options to the prime locations where green financing and investment opportunities are supported with government resources, venture capital and vast foreign private capital movement, our friends nationwide share similary challenges."
Many Black communities nationwide, including throughout the Central Valley of California, the lowest-paid workers have the longest commutes to work, which limits the geographic range of job opportunities for residents in communities with high unemployment.
For example, recent deep cuts throughout the Sacramento Regional Transit District, affects the cities poorest residents the most, especially modern day skilled women workers, like Rosa Parks, who utilize public transportation.
In Washington, D.C., housing and transportation costs almost 50 percent of the median household income. We will highlight, with an elevated focus on Rosa Parks Day, at the Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference, featuring U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to alert and seek financial support and collaborative partners to expand our efforts toward equity and equal opportunity.
Historic and current examples where the Federal Transit Administration had to use regulatory authority to deny project funding where clear violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 were found, again is a wake-up call many pubic policy officials need to balance business opportunity for political consideration.
Angela Glover Blackwell, the founder and chief executive officer of the research and advocacy organization, PolicyLink, is a powerful voice internationallyto understand,the central role that transportation policy has always played in the struggle for civil rights, especially for low-income Americans.
Socially disadvantaged people of color, especially people of African descent, historically remain the poorest segment of the population throughout America; the legacy of previous condition of servitude continues an open festering sore without targeted resources to the cause.
Globally, the civil and human rights advocates can utilize 2011 Rosa Parks Day, United Nations International Year for People of African Descent, to reconnect efforts to celebrate how far we have come, identify common objectives and plan strategies toward unmet transportation needs to broaden the effort toward a higher standard of living for, especially those who ride the bus.
Happy Birthday Rosa
Rebuilding Another Golden Age of Classical African Civilization
Today, Kwanzaa is celebrated globally andnearly 1 billion people of African descent, manywho recall well the Golden Age of Classical African Civilizations, take great pride inpreparing for equity and equal opportunityfor people of African descent.
Global Black Farmers celebrate our bountiful harvest in 2010 and prepare for the 45th season of Kwanzaa in collaboration with the United Nations, International Year of People of African Descent and global business partnerships.
May 15, 1862 President Lincoln and Congress established the United States Department of Agriculture, then the Homestead Act, and the Morrill Act to secure an elevated stature of Agriculture production throughout America.
President Lincoln thenprepared to free enslaved people of African descent as a tactical civil war measure designed to pressure the Confederate Army to operate without enslaved human beings with a September 1862 warning.
Beginning in1492 and the European military and religious conquest of the New World, began anindustrial agriculture and economic commerce throughout the Western Hemisphere that relied upon the lifetime productive utility ofenslaved African human beings, the orginal stock of economic capitalism traded in a futures market.
For several centuries, European values and beliefs destroyed the cultural aspirations on an entire continent while dislocating authentic cultures throughout the America's and the Caribbean Basin.
2011 may begin toquantify and qualify theofficial record, especially in theUnited States of America, the land of freedom through the "Voice of America" the 112th Congress.
January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed an Executive Order, called the Emancipation Proclamation, an effective Civil War measure designed to pressure the Confederate Army to end hostilities.
Legal slavery remained in the Union states until after the ratificationof the 13th amendment December 18, 1865 and the slow, painful challenge of ending mental, physical, economic, emotional and spiritual enslavement continues today.
In the Central Valley of California, The Greatest Garden in the World early Black California pioneers hosted one of the first parades in the United States that celebrated the Emancipation Proclamation beginning January 1, 1863 continues on the final day of Kwanzaa, and begins the United Nations, International Year of People of African Descent.
Saturday, January 1, 2011,hosted bythe Stockton Black Leadership Council, led by Dr. Ralph White, continues the historic tradition on the last day of Kwanzaa, building upon the official recognition by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama of our 7-day Kwanzaa holiday celebration and the formal proclamation about slavery and human trafficking prevention.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons remarks on the establishment of the International Year for People of African Descent, launched at United Nations Headquarters, proclaimed recently by the General Assembly, seeks to strengthen political commitment to eradicating discrimination against people of African descent and aims to promote greater awareness of and respect for the diverse heritage and culture of people of African descent.
Kwanzaa and the United Nations share a unique California Grown origin and fate to establish universal principles thathelp nurture the forward flow of humanity for the world.
We call upon our global partners along with the United States Department of Agriculture to help us prepare for our 45th Season of Kwanzaa, the International Year of People of African Descent.
In the spirit of Kujichagulia, self-determination, we are humbled and prepared to fulfill our unique role and responsibility of good stewardship in the #1 Agriculture state in our great nation.
Shirley Sherrod and U.S. Secretary Tom Vilsackshare a heart felt moment working towardspositive resolution tolong standing and ongoing challenges at
U.S. Senate voted to resolve Pigford II and now attention turns back totheU.S. House of Representatives during the Lame Duck 111th Congressional Session.Tucked within H.R. 4783 is Section 201SEC. 201. APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR FINAL SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS FROMBLACK FARMERS DISCRIMINATION LITIGATION
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.The term Settlement Agreement means the settlement agreement dated February 18, 2010 (including any modifications agreed to by the parties and approved by the court under that agreement) between certain plaintiffs, by and through their counsel, and the Secretary of Agriculture to resolve, fully and forever, the claims raised or that could have been raised in the cases consolidated in
In re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, Misc. No. 08mc05118 (PLF), including Pigford claims asserted under section 14012 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110246; 122 Stat. 2209).
PIGFORD CLAIM.The term Pigford claim has the meaning given that term in section 14012(a)(3) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 14 Act of 2008 (Public Law 110246; 122 Stat. 2210).
APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.There is appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture $1,150,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out the terms of the Settlement Agreement if the Settlement Agreement is approved by a court order that is or becomes final and nonappealable, and the court finds that the Settlement Agreement is modified to incorporate the additional terms.
The funds appropriated by this subsection are in addition to the $100,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation made available by section 14012(i) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110246; 122 Stat. 2 2212) and shall be available for obligation only after those Commodity Credit Corporation funds are fully obligated.
If the Settlement Agreement is not approved as provided in this subsection, the $100,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation made available by section 14012(i) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 8 2008 shall be the sole funding available for Pigford claims.
USE OF FUNDS.The use of the funds appropriated by subsection (b) shall be subject to the express terms of the Settlement Agreement.
TREATMENT OF REMAINING FUNDS.If any of the funds appropriated by subsection are not obligated and expended to carry out the Settlement Agreement, the Secretary of Agriculture shall return the unused funds to the Treasury and may not make the unused funds available for any purpose related to section 14012 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, for any other settlement agreement executed in In re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, No. 08511 (D.D.C.), or for any other purpose.
RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the United States, any of its officers or agencies, or any other party to enter into the Settlement Agreement or any other settlement agreement. Nothing in this section shall be construed as creating the basis for a Pigford claim.
CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.Section 14012 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110246; 122 Stat. 2209) is amended
ADDITIONAL SETTLEMENT TERMS.For the purposes of this section and funding for the Settlement Agreement, the following are additional terms:
DEFINITIONS.In this subsection:
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.The term Settlement Agreement means the settlement, including any modifications agreed to by the parties and approved by the court, between the Secretary of Agriculture and certain plaintiffs, by and through their counsel in litigation titled Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation.
NEUTRAL ADJUDICATOR.
IN GENERAL.The term Neutral Adjudicator means a Track A Neutral or a Track B Neutral as those terms are defined in the Settlement Agreement, who have been hired by Lead Class Counsel as that term is defined in the Settlement Agreement.
REQUIREMENT.The Track A and B Neutrals called for in the Settlement Agreement shall be approved by the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Attorney General, and the court.
OATH.Every Neutral Adjudicator shall take an oath administered by the court prior to hearing claims.
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION OR EVIDENCE.Any Neutral Adjudicator may, during the course of hearing claims, require claimants to provide additional documentation and evidence if, in the Neutral Adjudicators judgment, the additional documentation and evidence would be necessary or helpful in deciding the merits of the claim, or if the adjudicator suspects fraud regarding the claim.
ATTORNEYS FEES, EXPENSES, AND COSTS.
IN GENERAL.Subject to subparagraph (B) and the provisions of the Settlement Agreement regarding attorneys fee caps and maximum and minimum percentages for awards of attorneys fees, the court shall make any determination as to the amount of attorneys fees, expenses, and costs in accordance with controlling law, including, with respect to attorneys fees, expenses, and costs, any applicable rule of law requiring counsel to produce contemporaneous time, expenses, and cost records in support of a motion for such fees, expenses, and costs.
EFFECT ON AGREEMENT.Nothing in this paragraph limits or otherwise affects the enforceability of provisions regarding attorneys fees, expenses, and costs that may be contained in the Settlement Agreement.
CERTIFICATION.An attorney filing a claim on behalf of a claimant shall swear, under penalty of perjury, that: to the best of the attorneys knowledge, information, and belief formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances, the claim is supported by existing law and the factual contentions have evidentiary support.
DISTRIBUTION OF CLAIMS DETERMINATIONS AND SETTLEMENT FUNDS.In order to ensure full transparency of the administration of claims under the Settlement Agreement, the Claims Administrator as that term is defined in the Settlement Agreement, shall provide to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture, the Attorney General, and Lead Class Counsel as that term is defined in the Settlement Agreement, all information regarding Distribution of Claims Determinations and Settlement Funds described in the Settlement Agreement.
REPORTS. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.
The Comptroller General of the United States shall evaluate the internal controls (including internal controls concerning fraud and abuse) created to carry out the terms of the Settlement Agreement, and report to the Congress at least 2 times throughout the duration of the claims adjudication process on the results of this evaluation.
ACCESS TO INFORMATION.Solely for purposes of conducting the evaluation under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller General shall have access, upon request, to the claims administrator, the claims adjudicators, and related officials, appointed in connection with the aforementioned settlement, and to any information and records generated, used, or received by them, including names and addresses.
USDA INSPECTOR GENERAL.
PERFORMANCE AUDIT.The Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture shall, within 180 days of the initial adjudication of claims, and subsequently as appropriate, perform a performance audit based on a statistical sampling of adjudicated claims.
AUDIT RECIPIENTS.The audits described in clause (i) shall be provided to Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General.
