On Expanding Black Power and Lives
Podcast: The authors of two new books, Andre Perry and Oscar Perry Abello, explain the connection between investment and life expectancy in Black communities.
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Black power is more than symbolic. It’s a measurable reality tied to things like ownership, investment in neighborhoods, and—ultimately—life expectancy.
In this episode, we’re joined by the authors of two new books — Andre Perry, author of “The Black Power Scorecard,” and Oscar Perry Abello, author of “The Banks We Deserve” — to talk about systems that have historically failed communities of color and what it will take to build lasting institutions that truly serve them. The episode is based on a Next City webinar produced earlier this year, “Achieving Economic Justice and Power.”
Perry argues that Black communities already hold real power, except it’s often undervalued or ignored. His research reveals a strong link between life expectancy and factors like ownership of homes and businesses—which requires deliberate financial investment. As he puts it, “Nothing grows without investment.”
Abello calls out the stark disparities in community banking. Of the roughly 4,000 community banks in the U.S., only about 120 serve communities of color, meaning most character-based lending remains inaccessible to Black and brown entrepreneurs.
To get examples of solutions and learn how to grow what’s working, listen to the episode below or subscribe to the Next City podcast on Apple, Spotify or Goodpods.
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