Galindo Study Analyzes Black Middle Class in Britain

Researcher Benjamín Galindo published a study and book titled "The Good, the Black and the Boujee," which examines the emergence and instability of the black middle class in Britain. Based on a study of 1,460 black professionals, Galindo identifies three distinct tiers within this group: an emerging middle class, a traditional middle class, and a black elite.

Galindo argues that public perception continues to equate blackness with the working class, resulting in social profiling even within professional environments. He cites the experience of Edward Enninful, the former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, who reported being racially profiled by security guards at his own publication.

The research notes that while the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement briefly increased representation on high-level institutional boards and in the media, these gains now face political and legal challenges, specifically criticisms regarding "DEI hires." Consequently, Galindo identifies a growing trend of status anxiety and a desire among some black professionals to emigrate to the United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates due to the current political and economic climate in the UK.