Synopses & Reviews
Changing perceptions about the worth of African Americans and their communities
Know Your Price establishes new means of determining value of Black communities. The deliberate devaluation of Blacks and their communities, stemming from America's centuries-old history of slavery, racism, and other state-sanctioned policies like redlining have tangible, far-reaching, and negative economic and social impacts. Rejecting policies shaped by flawed perspectives, the book gives fresh insights on these impacts and provides a new value paradigm to limit them.
In the book, noted educator, journalist, and scholar Andre Perry takes readers on a guided tour of five Black-majority cities whose assets and strengths are undervalued. Perry begins the tour in his hometown of Wilkinsburg, a small city east of Pittsburgh that, unlike its much larger neighbor, is struggling and failing to attract new jobs and industry. Perry gives an overview of Black-majority cities and spotlights four where he has a deep connection to — Detroit, New Orleans, Birmingham and Washington, D.C. — providing an intimate look at the assets residents should demand greater value from.
Know Your Price demonstrates through rigorous research and thorough analysis the worth of Black people's intrinsic strengths, real property, and traditional institutions. All of these assets are means of empowerment, as Perry argues for shifting away from simplified notions of equality and moving towards maximizing equity.
Review
"This work combines extraordinarily readable, well-documented data analysis with a people-oriented call for activism." Library Journal
Review
"At its core, Perry's work and research is very personal, intimate and familial, because it's for and about Black people...but what he's doing is also a public service for the common good." Carla Bell, Essence
Review
" This book illustrates beautifully for the rest of the world how perceived value and gendered racism in policies is killing us." Alexis McGill Johnson, co-founder, Perception Institute; acting CEO, Planned Parenthood
About the Author
Andre Perry is a fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution. His research focuses on race and structural inequality, education, and economic inclusion. Prior to his work at Brookings, Perry has been a founding dean, professor, award-winning journalist, and activist in the field of education.