One of Occupy Wall Street's greatest achievements thus far has been its aggressive -- and very public -- underscoring of what we have all known for a long time: America is a nation of tremendous, heartbreaking inequality.

But in the midst of the public debate over whether the movement's aims are always crystal clear, what often get obscured are the hard facts about those communities within the 99 percent that have been hit first and worst by the nation's inequality.

Right now the rate of black unemployment is nearly double that of whites. America faces an unprecedented racial wealth gap brought on by the worst housing crisis in U.S. history. And by 2018, a projected 45 percent of all jobs in this country will demand at least an associate degree -- though, among today's workers, only 27 percent of African Americans have earned at least that.

The 2010 Census has also projected that by 2042, people of color will be the majority in America. Given these rapidly changing demographics, the nation can no longer afford to operate under the same unequal, trickle-down policies that led to the current cirsis. To get back on track, America needs a new economic framework, one that is fair and inclusive for all people. The country needs an equity-driven growth model.

In a new report, "America's Tomorrow: Equity Is the Superior Growth Model" (pdf), PolicyLink explains that such a model would merge two agendas that have traditionally been separate: the agenda to grow new jobs and bolster long-term competitiveness, and the agenda to ensure that all within the borders -- especially low-income people and people of color -- have the opportunity to benefit from and co-create that growth.

This means rebuilding the nation's public infrastructure, its transit lines, roads, schools, bridges and sidewalks. It means growing new businesses and new jobs and preparing our existing and incoming workforce to compete in a 21st-century global economy. The nation must embrace the emerging racial and ethnic majority as an asset and make investments that will allow the next generation to truly thrive and succeed.