The Black Middle Class

In spite of steady growth in the black middle-class over the past 30 years, many African-Americans still believe they face race-based obstacles. As a result, they argue that affirmative action is still necessary to give even highly qualified blacks a fair chance at getting ahead. But others dispute the notion that discrimination is a serious problem and warn that the policy will hurt rather than help blacks by giving them a disincentive to work hard. At the same time, another debate rages over black flight to the suburbs. The American dream of a house in the suburbs only recently has become reality for many African-Americans. But some members of the black community say that successful blacks should move back to the cities in order to help disadvantaged African-Americans left behind.