In Britain, we equate blackness with the working class. It’s time for a rethink
In my new book, I narrate the existence, behaviours and sensibilities of the black British middle class, a social group largely ignored, until now
TL;DR
- In Britain, there is a public perception that equates blackness with the working class, making the black middle class invisible.
- Black professionals often face social profiling, being mistaken for couriers, defendants, or support staff, despite their achievements.
- The author's research identifies three groups within the black British middle class: emerging, traditional, and elite.
- The Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 brought increased visibility and opportunities for the black elite, but this progress faces current political and legal challenges.
- A sense of precariousness and status anxiety exists within the emergent black middle class, particularly concerning housing affordability and social mobility.
- Many black professionals surveyed are considering leaving the UK for countries like Canada, Dubai, or the US due to perceived better opportunities and social infrastructure.
- The future of black Britain could involve further assimilation into white British society or a more global, fluid identity connected to the transnational black diaspora.