Beginning in 1976, serious droughts hit the South. When the droughts continued in 1977 and 1978, the price of oil shot up, forcing other costs - from fertilizer to equipment - to skyrocket. With President Carter's grain embargo to contend with as well, American farmers were hurting; but black farmers, who had to struggle to keep afloat even in good times, experienced an intensified crisis. By 1978 there were only 6,996 black farms left.

Photo: Vickie A. Smith