Across America, state property taxes are sold as the price we pay for “good schools” and “strong communities.” But for Black families, property taxes have become nothing more than a sham — a system designed to take without giving back. They are a tool of extraction, not development, and they keep too many families locked out of homeownership and stability.
The Burden Without Benefit
Property taxes rise year after year, but in too many Black communities, schools remain failing, roads remain broken, and services remain poor. Families are squeezed harder and harder, but the quality of life doesn’t improve. The reality is simple: property taxes are a bill with no return on investment.
How It Hurts Black Families
- Homeownership Barriers: Rising taxes make it harder for first-time buyers — especially Black families already facing credit discrimination — to afford homes.
- Forced Displacement: Longtime homeowners are pushed out of neighborhoods as taxes climb beyond their fixed incomes.
- Wealth Stripping: Even when families build equity, tax hikes eat away at it, turning ownership into a financial trap.
- Punishing Homeowners Who Paid in Full: Even after you’ve worked for decades to pay off your house, the government continues to tax you as if you’re still renting it from the state. That means you never truly “own” your property — because if you miss the tax bill, the state can seize it. For many, especially those on fixed incomes, this system forces people out of homes they worked their entire lives to pay for.
The Sham of “Funding Schools”
Politicians defend high property taxes by saying they fund education. But if that were true, Black schools would not consistently rank at the bottom. Billions are collected, yet our children still sit in underfunded classrooms with outdated books and crumbling facilities. The money flows, but accountability is nowhere to be found.
Developers and Politicians Benefit — Not Families
Meanwhile, developers and political insiders find loopholes, abatements, and sweetheart deals to avoid paying their share. Black homeowners, on the other hand, are given no such relief. The system is rigged so wealth is extracted from our neighborhoods while being protected in others.
A Call for Reform
If property taxes are to exist, they must be tied to fairness and results. That means:
- End Property Taxes for Anyone Who Has Paid Off Their Home — true ownership should mean freedom from state rent.
- Caps on Property Tax Increases so families aren’t taxed out of their homes.
- Accountability for Spending so communities actually see improvements.
- Equity in Assessments so Black homeowners aren’t unfairly overvalued and overtaxed.
- Alternative Models such as land value taxation or targeted exemptions for working families.
Real Ownership Demands Fairness
Black America cannot rise if ownership remains a trap instead of a pathway to wealth. Property taxes in their current form are a sham — draining Black families without building Black futures. If we are serious about independence and progress, it’s time to demand tax reform that serves people, not politicians and developers.
