As part of a collaborative research project between people from racialised communities, London School of Economics and Equality Trust, Anita shares her insights into what is wealth, what helps and hinders people from racialised communities to build wealth and what could make a difference. The research was funded by the British Academy Innovation Fellowship Scheme (Fellowship number IF2324/24008). You can find the summary briefing from this project and any further information from www.equalitytrust.org.uk
Anita discusses how assets can benefit you and benefit others eg might translate as being able to buy a home, build savings or assets and investments. Wealth can help families help each other eg with living costs, buying a house, going to university. Wealth is about having something extra to meeting the costs of living.
Anita talks about the different skills and understandings that one needs to allow someone to build businesses or go into skilled professions. She discusses how the access to parental wealth can enable next generation to grow wealth.
Disabling elements, or barriers to wealth were cultural - eg ingrained gender roles and familial roles. Cultural expectations can be a real barrier. There are many sacrifices along the way to growing wealth which aren't recognised or measured by statistics. Disability and caring responsibilities can both be barriers to growing wealth. People left their countries and work really hard to grow wealth but not everyone ahs that same opportunity. The work ethic can help build wealth but it does come at a cost. There were a lot of opportunities that people weren’t given because of racism and were forced into low paying, low skilled jobs.
