Author asks why some communities thrive regardless of obstacles
As the city marks five years since the murder of George Floyd, the McKnight Foundation hosted Dr. Andre M. Perry Tuesday, May 20 for a discussion on Black wealth, power and equity, coinciding with the release of his new book, “Black Power Scorecard: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It.”
Perry, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and director of its Center for Community Uplift, spoke at the Capri Theater. The event, titled “A Conversation on Black Wealth & Power Building,” focused on themes including homeownership, reparative policy, and economic inclusion.
“My research is really an extension of my upbringing,” Perry said. “I was raised in a devalued, majority-Black neighborhood in Pittsburgh — full of smart, quality people — but it was denied investment simply because of who lived there.”
Perry was joined by McKnight Foundation President Tonya Allen and Nexus Community Partners founder and CEO Repa Mekha. The conversation was grounded in Perry’s research and personal experience.
The visit came as new data from Brookings reported a 157% increase in Black-owned businesses in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area between 2017 and 2022 — one of the fastest growth rates in the country. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis also reported a rise in Black homeownership, from below 25% in 2019 to more than one in three households.
The event was held in partnership with Black Garnet Books, a local Black-owned bookstore that provided complimentary copies of Perry’s book to attendees. “This book asks: If racism is a given, what makes some Black communities defy the odds and thrive anyway?” Perry said.
Known for his research on housing devaluation in Black neighborhoods, Perry said his latest book shifts focus — from identifying disparities to highlighting places where Black Americans are thriving and the individuals helping to make that progress possible.
“I define Black power as the ability to live out one’s natural life,” Perry said. “That’s why life expectancy is the north star of this book. We measure housing, education, transportation and policy outcomes not just in dollars or gaps — but in years of life.”
Perry draws on both his academic work and his upbringing. Raised in Pittsburgh by a woman who opened her home to children from struggling families, he said the experience shaped his belief that local assets can drive social change.
“This is an optimistic book,” he said. “It uplifts the doers — the folks who are making real, measurable progress in our communities.”
Rather than comparing Black and white neighborhoods, Perry’s analysis focuses on intra-community dynamics — specifically, Black communities with above-average life expectancy despite systemic inequities.
“I don’t compare Black people to white people in this book,” he said. “That kind of comparison can mask the real progress happening locally. I’m more interested in what makes these high-performing places different — and how we can replicate that.”
The book’s release was timed around the anniversary of Floyd’s death.
“My hope was to provide the basis for a Black agenda that isn’t solely rooted in our dying, but in our thriving,” Perry said. “George Floyd died in a context of measurable inequities — housing, income, environmental quality. If we focus on those conditions, not just the tragic moments, we can build a more forward-looking, comprehensive strategy for Black Americans.”
Perry also addressed the current political climate, where diversity, equity and inclusion efforts face increasing scrutiny.
“We need strong civil rights protections, but we also need a vision of what we’re fighting for,” he said. “This book is part of that vision.”
For more information or to purchase “Black Power Scorecard,” visit us.macmillan.com.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.