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.

BIO

Andre M. Perry is a senior fellow and director of the Center for Community Uplift at the Brookings Institution. He is also a professor of practice of economics at Washington University in St. Louis. A nationally known and respected commentator on race, structural inequality, and education, Perry is the author of the forthcoming book “Black Power Scorecard: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It,” published by Henry Holt, available April 15, 2025 wherever books are sold. In 2020, Brooking Press published Perry’s previous book, “Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities.”  

Perry is a regular contributor to MSNBC and has been published by numerous national media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, Bloomberg CityLab, and CNN.com. Perry has also made appearances on HBO, CNN, PBS, National Public Radio, NBC, and ABC. Perry’s research focuses on race and structural inequality, education, and economic inclusion. Perry’s recent scholarship at Brookings examines well-being across racial groups and regions in America, focusing on how investments in critical assets can lead to thriving.    

REVIEWS

"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

[H]  Metropolitan Books  /  April 15, 2025

0.92" H x 8.53" L x 5.7" W (0.73 lbs) 256 pages