This year marks the centennial anniversary of the Great Migration that saw millions of Black Americans migrate from the south to the urban centers of the north with the promise of security and economic prosperity. Worldwide, global cities are destinations for people of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds seeking employment, educational opportunities, and better futures. Yet many cities are segregated, with populations locked in neighborhoods of generational poverty, criminality, and poor housing and schools. Cities are on the front line of solving the cultural and socioeconomic challenges facing these communities. How can global cities define the future of inclusive, open societies and fulfill the promise they offer?
Kamal Al-Solaylee’s most recent book Brown: What Being Brown in the World Today Means (to Everyone) will be available for sale and signing.