FALSE NARRATIVE

As a former Springfield resident and engaged member of this community, I find the recent article "Economic gaps persist for Blacks" (May 15) to be less a data analysis and more a narrative instrument – crafted to reinforce the profitable illusion of racism rather than provide a clear-eyed view of economic complexity.

Let's ground ourselves in verifiable data: Springfield's population is approximately 114,000. Roughly 19% identify as Black or African American. The overall poverty rate is 13.9%, and 37.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These metrics are citywide, not racially exclusive.

The article implies that poverty in Springfield is primarily a Black problem. Yet it fails to provide demographic poverty breakdowns. In doing so, it erases struggling rur

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