Nor is the move limited to the black middle class.

"Unless strong measures are taken to keep the middle class, black and white, we're going to be in real trouble."

The black middle class has exploded in size and influence.

"The majority of the black middle class is here," he said.

Why do you think the black middle class has been so moved by his call for individual responsibility?

"I think the big issue here is: does the city want a black or Hispanic middle class?"

He would say you did a good job creating a black middle class.

The black middle class, she says, is much more complex than that.

The black middle class is larger and more successful than ever.

"What Brown has done is to just cause an explosion of the black middle class."