From the creator of "a unified field theory of racism" (NPR's Planet Money), a dollars-and-cents reckoning of the state of Black America and a new framework to close the power gap
Historically, Black Americans' quest for power has been understood as an attempt to gain equal protections under the law. But power in America requires more than basic democratic freedoms. It is inextricably linked with economic influence and ownership--of one's self, home, business, and creations.
Andre M. Perry draws on extensive research and analysis to quantify how much power Black Americans actually have. Ranging from property, business, and wealth to education, health, and social mobility, Black Power Scorecard moves across the country, evaluating people's ability to set the rules of the game and calculating how that translates into the ultimate means of power--life itself, and the longevity of Black communities. Along the way, Perry identifies woefully overlooked areas of investment that could close the racial gap and benefit everyone.
An expansive take on power supported by documentation and data, Black Power Scorecard is a fresh contribution to the country's reckoning with structural inequality, one that offers a new approach to redressing it.
About the Author :
Andre M. Perry is the author of Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America's Black Cities. He is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the director of its Center for Community Uplift as well as a professor of practice of economics at Washington University in St. Louis. He lives in Prince George's County, Maryland.
Review :
"A timely and essential book--not only a valuable encyclopedia of data on persistent racial gaps, but a clear and forceful analysis of what it might take to overcome them. . . . Arm yourself by reading Perry's clear, accessible, and data-driven analysis."
--Richard McGahey, Forbes
"Perry reevaluates what it means for Black Americans to be empowered in this smart and revelatory treatise....one of the most riveting and convincing studies yet to make a case for reparations."
--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"Timely.... Necessary reading that offers clear and actionable ways to close the racial gap."
--Kirkus
"At a moment when our country feels divided, this book offers a powerful reminder of our shared hopes: safe neighborhoods, quality schools, and opportunities to build better lives for ourselves and our families. It challenges us to rethink what true power means--not as something hoarded, but as systems that ensure these opportunities exist for everyone, in every community."
--John Legend
"By reframing the concept of 'wealth' and expanding the very definition of 'power, ' Black Power Scorecard serves as a Black manifesto, a self-help manual, and a road map to a better future. Not only does Perry identify the symptoms of America's most persistent social illness, he also writes a prescription."
--Michael Harriot, author of Black AF History
"Important argument. Optimistic and progressive at the same time. A breath of fresh air."
--Andrew Keen, Keen on America
"Black Power Scorecard is a must-read. It is engaging, analytical, and presents common sense solutions, looking at homeownership, business creation, family formation, and geography as either forces for good, which will enhance Black self-determination and power, or as the means of stripping wealth from Black people, along with their voices and votes."
--Dorothy Brown, author of The Whiteness of Wealth
"Expansive and groundbreaking, Black Power Scorecard is a vital contribution to the nation's reckoning with structural inequality, providing a new and persuasive approach to addressing these critical issues."
--The Institute of the Black World 21st Century
"Provides a much-needed survey of the state of Black power as we head into yet another critical moment in American politics. Through careful study and thorough research, Perry has created a blueprint for building collective power in our communities and a brighter future for the next generation."
--Kimberle Crenshaw, author of On Intersectionality
"Andre Perry's work is that of an excavator, uncovering hidden treasures in the Black community, which include entrepreneurial potential, underappraised properties, and untapped health and vitality. In a country that once undermined Black progress at every turn, Black Power Scorecard offers a bold and optimistic vision."
--Jonathan Rothwell, author of A Republic of Equals
