Defining who is "middle class" is not as straightforward as you might think. For a story entitled "Empowering a Thriving Black Middle Class" the Urban Institute interviewed Dr LaToya Council, who uses a broader definition than just typical measures of status. She looks for economic security for generations. The Black Family Thriving Initiative has similar thinking - they aim to "reframe the narrative of being Black and middle class in America." Dr Council's own research focuses on middle class married couples and aims to deepen our understanding of how race and gender oppression impact Black middle-class couples, utilizing archival research and interviews.