The Opportunity Index

8Ghosts

WHEN GROWING UP IN A city such as London, it's easy to assume the rest of the world is the same, that everywhere is diverse. It's also easy to assume that poverty is only what you have experienced and that other communities have it easier. One of my concerns about making a case to reduce the racial wealth gap is that people outside of the Black community might not care. I do believe we can evidence the fact that the economic progress of Black communities will benefit wider society. But upon my travels outside of London, two things have occurred to me. The first is that inequality is widespread, experienced across a host of geographies, races, and classes. Second, despite the differences among these communities, there are a lot of parallels between the different groups. As a result, it's not just the economic progress of Black communities that will benefit others, but the possibility of a multiplier effect. If we can find a method that could be employed across a host of disadvantaged communities, the benefit will be increased significantly.

Working for a global corporation often requires traveling to different offices or client locations. London is a cosmopolitan city of 9.5 million people, with over 40% identifying as Asian, Black, or mixed heritage or other.¹ There are enclaves and suburbs where different demographics dominate: Pakistanis in Southall, Jews in Golders Green, or Turks in Green Lanes. New York is similar. London at 607 square miles actually has a bigger ...