Letter: Black History Month Deserves to Be Celebrated Every Day

To the Editor:

My name is Jack Callahan. I am a 14-year-old, white, American boy, and I believe that no matter who you are, where you are, and what you believe in, we the people have an obligation to celebrate the beauty of the people and cultures around us.

Some people will ask why we should care about Black history and if we, as Americans, are all equal, why do Black people deserve a month of recognition when we, non-Black Americans, don't. The truth is that we are not equal.

As the world advances, our built-in white superiority complex should not advance with us. Data presented by "The Hill" states that as of 2021, there are 18 states that have created bans and restrictions on the education of racial topics. This indicates that the American government is trying to reinstate the concept of Black people not mattering to our society. Yet we know, every race and ethnicity brings countless benefits. Black culture and history continue to flourish but we as a society have decided to push it to the shortest month of our year when it should constantly be admired throughout our calendar year.

It is essential to shed light upon the people whom white people have discriminated against over so many years in so many different ways. Even though America has done their best to wash Black culture down the drain, there are visionaries that have combatted and made an admirable stand. Most people will look to someone like Rosa Parks or Dr. Martin Luther King, but I would like to use some of the words from one of today's biggest names, Kendrick Lamar.

In "Alright," Lamar claims, "we hate po-po, wanna kill us dead in the street fo' sho,'" pointing out the issue of police brutality which is only one of many harmful aggression against people of color. This further urges all races and ethnicities to unite and acknowledge that all minorities deserve to be safe and have a voice; I believe the best way to do this is to celebrate the history of Black people every month because it is nothing but what they deserve.

Black history should be celebrated every month of the year. To ignore Black history is to ignore part of ourselves. To become a strong and healthy nation, America needs to empower every one of its people. This is best done through celebrating everybody everyday.

Jackson Callahan
North Adams, Mass. 

Residents Still Having Issues with Sand from Berkshire Concrete

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
12:27PM / Friday, March 21, 2025

Planners Donald Davis, left, Robert Collins and Zack McCain III hear from residents of the Pleasant Street area. 

DALTON, Mass. — Town officials say they are taking residents' concerns seriously regarding the dust and particulates coating bordering neighborhoods from Berkshire Concrete's unauthorized dig site, which is allegedly causing health issues.

 

In February, the town ordered Berkshire Concrete to stop work because of a "clerical error" that led to the improper notification of abutters. The parcel being excavated, No. 105-16, was not included in the permit application despite being shown on the submitted site map.

 

At the advice of town counsel, all work has stopped, and Berkshire Concrete will be required to reapply for this permit under this parcel number.

 

The Planning Board will be reviewing the mitigation plan recently submitted by Berkshire Concrete and will discuss it at a future meeting. 

 

Although the work has ceased, residents say that they are still experiencing issues because the sand from the dig site is still accessible to the wind. 

 

During Wednesday's Planning Board meeting, more than 50 residents attended, online and in person, to highlight what they have said at several meetings — the need for the town to take action to protect the community's health and environment from the sand leaving the dig site.  

 

Community members voiced frustration over being shuffled among various boards to address their complaints and called for improved collaborative communication between boards and departments.