While tax policy is often seen as a dry, technical topic, it has a profound impact on economic well-being. For low-income communities, regressive income taxes can exacerbate income inequalities, making it harder for these individuals to improve their economic status. University of Virginia professor Andrew A. Kahrl’s book, “The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America,” discusses how systemic practices such as predatory lending, discriminatory tax assessments, and regressive taxation in the US economy have systematically disadvantaged Black individuals for centuries. Beginning in the Jim Crow Era, the series of systemic injustices laid the groundwork for the enduring racial wealth gap we witness today.
The Historical Context of Tax Inequality
The origins of tax-based discrimination against Black Americans can be traced back to the post-Reconstruction era. As Southern states sought to re-establish white supremacy after the Civil War, they enacted policies designed to economically disenfranchise Black citizens. Among these were discriminatory property tax assessments that inflated the taxable value of Black-owned properties while under-assessing White-owned properties. This practice not only made it more difficult for Black landowners to keep their property but also funneled a disproportionate share of tax revenue from Black communities without corresponding investments in public services.
For example, in the early 20th century, the town of Edmonson, Arkansas, a thriving Black community, was systematically dismantled through targeted tax policies. Local white plantation owners orchestrated the creation of a special-improvement district that imposed taxes on Edmonson’s properties without informing the residents. When the residents inevitably failed to pay these unexpected taxes, the state seized the land and transferred it to the white plantation owners, devastating the Black community both economically and socially.
The Mechanisms of Modern Dispossession
These discriminatory practices did not end with the civil rights victories of the 1960s. Instead, they evolved and adapted to new political and economic contexts. Modern forms of tax-based dispossession include the use of tax liens and tax sales, which disproportionately affect low-income and Black homeowners. A particularly egregious example is found in Baltimore, where the city auctions off tax liens on properties with delinquent bills, often for trivial amounts. The new lien holders can then charge exorbitant fees and interest, ultimately foreclosing on the properties if the owners cannot pay. This practice has led to the loss of homes for many Black families, perpetuating cycles of poverty and displacement.
The Broader Economic Impact
The economic ramifications of these tax policies extend beyond individual families to entire communities. When predominantly Black neighborhoods are systematically overtaxed and underfunded, it results in inferior public services, including poorly
maintained infrastructure, underfunded schools, and
inadequate healthcare facilities. This, in turn, limits
economic opportunities for residents, trapping them
in a cycle of poverty.
According to a study by economists Carlos
Avenancio-León and Troup Howard, from 1870 to
2020, Black Americans were overtaxed by more than
$275 billion in 2023 dollars. This overtaxation
represents not just a direct financial burden but also
an indirect tax on opportunity, stifling the economic
mobility of millions of individuals.
Figure 1: The Circle of Poverty
Moving Toward Fiscal Equity
Addressing these deep-seated inequalities requires bold policy interventions. One proposal is the creation of a federal fiscal equity program that would allocate funds to local governments based on need, similar to systems in place in Canada. This would ensure that communities historically disadvantaged by discriminatory tax practices receive the resources necessary to rebuild and thrive. Additionally, implementing a universal home tax exemption for primary residences could provide significant relief to lower-income homeowners and those in historically neglected areas. Such measures would help mitigate the harmful effects of regressive taxation and support efforts to close the racial wealth gap.
The history of tax policy in the United States is marred by systemic discrimination that has disproportionately harmed Black communities and perpetuated economic inequality. While the specifics of these policies have evolved, their impact remains starkly evident today. To create a more equitable society, we must confront and address these injustices through comprehensive reforms that promote fiscal equity and ensure all Americans have the opportunity to succeed.
The opportunity gap in America is not merely a product of individual failings or market forces but a result of deliberate policy choices. By understanding the historical and ongoing impact of these choices, we can work towards a future where economic opportunity is truly accessible to all.
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