If only Shawn Rochester were here to voice his views on the March 22nd Gazette article "Final ARPA spending contested." Mr. Rochester has written “The Black Tax: The Cost of Being Black in America.” The Black Tax shows the extent to which Black Americans have been placed at a severe economic disadvantage in fields such as auto, housing, online, job and lending markets. The book asks the question how, after 400 years, more than 40 million African Americans own only 2% of U.S. wealth. Not only is that question answered but the movement forward from that is investing in Black banks, businesses, communities and sacrifice short-term consumer gratification for long-term economic transformation. My reason for spotlighting The Black Tax is that I would like to see western Massachusetts citizens and representatives prioritizing growing strong and successful communities for everyone who makes their home here. The Black Tax is one way to understand the foundation of why things are the way they are and how we can make a more conscious effort to make them better.

Virginia Rechtschaffen

Northampton