Black Power Scorecard - by Andre M Perry

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"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 study....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

"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

"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

About the Author