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President Obama Signs Black Farmer Settlement

Black farmers in North Carolina and across the country are celebrating the signing of a bill authorizing payments to settle a racial bias lawsuit.

For decades – African American farmers have complained to the government about discrimination from the United States Department of Agriculture – or USDA.  With the stroke of a pen – President Barack Obama signed the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 – freeing up 1.15-billion dollars in settlement money. 

George Roseboro of Columbus County is one of four-thousand current or former black farmers in North Carolina.  He says his father died waiting for justice.

"To be honest, my reaction is it’s a blessing from the Lord. And I’ve been waiting ever since 1999."

That’s when the U-S District Court of the District of Columbia first approved the settlement.   It will pay current or former black farmers or their heirs approximately 50-thousand dollars.

Leoneda Inge is the co-host of WUNC's "Due South." Leoneda has been a radio journalist for more than 30 years, spending most of her career at WUNC as the Race and Southern Culture reporter. Leoneda’s work includes stories of race, slavery, memory and monuments. She has won "Gracie" awards, an Alfred I. duPont Award and several awards from the Radio, Television, Digital News Association (RTDNA). In 2017, Leoneda was named "Journalist of Distinction" by the National Association of Black Journalists.
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