The Nation - News from June 4, 1986

The highest-ranking black woman in the Agricultural Extension Service charged that the Agriculture Department has systematically denied services to blacks, as the department came under increasing fire for alleged racial discrimination. Edith Thomas, who said she expects her proposed firing to become final within a few days, told a news conference that, among other things, she had tried to conduct nutrition training sessions at traditionally black universities but was denied permission by her superiors.