America's New Golden Age Of Blackness

 Six time Tony winner Audra McDonald at the Met Gala.

In recent years, America has witnessed a remarkable rise in Black achievement, influence, and visibility across nearly every sphere of society. 

This occurred to me while I watched that parade of endless extravagance known as the Met Gala the other night. The whole evening was built around the theme of "Black Dandyism" -- the generations-steeped use of style by Black people to assert identity, challenge stereotypes and claim a place at the top. While the show was fashion-oriented, the evening was a celebration of unparalleled Black achievement and the rise of Black celebrities in every walk of life. It was a showcase of Blackness, all designed to dazzle.

Without generalizing, we must now acknowledge the extraordinary progress and cultural flourishing that has taken place. America has now entered what can only be described as a “Golden Age of Black People”—a time when Black Americans are not only shaping the popular culture but also making profound contributions to politics, business, academia, sports, and beyond. It's no exaggeration to say that Black people are in the spotlight everywhere.  And it's unprecedented. In fact, the last time we came even close to seeing anything like this was the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s but that was far more isolated, sadly fleeting and a full century ago. This is different. And it's important to point this out because both Black and white race baiters would have you believe otherwise.

Cultural Domination 

Popular culture is perhaps the most visible arena where Black Americans have asserted transformative influence. From music genres like hip-hop, R&B, and jazz to fashion, film, and television, Black creators and performers have set global trends. Artists like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, and Tyler Perry have become cultural icons, breaking records and challenging narratives about Black life and creativity. I don't necessarily understand the appeal of every artist in every genre but I cannot deny their ascent.

Black directors like Ava DuVernay and Ryan Coogler are reshaping Hollywood, while TV shows such as Insecure, Abbott Elementary, and Atlanta have received critical acclaim for exploring Black experiences. Indeed, you can now routinely count Black actors, directors and other artists among annual recipients of the Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy awards. A relatively short time ago, this was simply not the norm.

And this cultural power is not limited to entertainment. Black fashion designers, visual artists, and writers are reshaping the American aesthetic. And do we even have to mention Black dominance in sports? Yes, that's been a longstanding area of Black achievement but it seems to be at its zenith right now.

Added to all of this, the rise of Black-led brands, the growth of Black voices in journalism, and the widespread embrace of African American vernacular (for better or worse) demonstrates an ongoing cultural shift.

Political Power 

Black Americans have also made historic political gains. Of course, the election of Barack Obama as the first Black president (though he is, technically biracial) marked a watershed moment in U.S. history, but now Black leaders can be found across the board in both political parties. At the local and state levels, Black mayors, attorneys general, and legislators are shaping policy and governance in significant ways. And, with then rise of Black conservatives and President Trump's inclusive brand of populism, the Democrat Party can no longer take the Black vote for granted -- arguably a reflection of renewed political maturity among African Americans.

Economic Success

In business and entrepreneurship, Black Americans are breaking barriers and building generational wealth. From tech innovators and CEOs to small business owners and investors, Black entrepreneurs are also making their mark. This is happening because Black buying power is real. If you doubt that, look at the world of consumer advertising. It's hard to find an ad in any medium today that does not feature a Black person. 

The growth of Black-owned businesses, increased access to venture capital, and the expansion of Black professional networks are all signs of an economic transformation in progress. 

The advancement of Black America has by no means been limited to the leadership class -- far from it! Take a look at the statistics for everyday Black Americans in every category:

📚 Education

• High school completion:
  In 1964, only about 25% of Black Americans aged 25+ had completed high school. By 2023, that number rose to 90% — nearly closing the gap with white Americans.
• College attainment:
  In 1990, about 11% of Black Americans had a bachelor’s degree or higher. By 2023, that grew to about 26%, compared to 42% for white Americans — showing major gains, though gaps remain.
• HBCU enrollment:
  Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) now graduate nearly 20% of all Black undergraduates, despite making up only about 3% of higher ed institutions.

💼 Employment and Income

• Labor force participation:
  Black labor force participation (the share working or seeking work) has been consistently high, often above the national average in recent years.
• Black women’s workforce gains:
  Black women have the highest rate of labor force participation among all U.S. women (about 62%), and they are increasingly entering managerial, professional, and technical roles.
• Median Black household income:
  In 1967, median Black household income (adjusted for inflation) was about $28,000. By 2022, it had increased to $52,860 — a nearly 90% real increase, though still below the white median of ~$77,000.

👩🏽‍💼 Business and Entrepreneurship

• Black-owned businesses:
  There are about 161,000 Black-owned employer businesses in the U.S. (2022), making up around 3% of all U.S. businesses — a 14% increase from 2017. The growth in Black women-owned businesses has been particularly strong, rising by 50% over the past decade.
• Buying power:
  Black Americans’ collective buying power was $1.6 trillion in 2023, up from just $320 billion in 1990 — showing immense market influence.

🗳️ Civic and Political Participation

• Voter turnout:
  In the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, Black voter turnout surpassed white turnout for the first time in U.S. history. While it slightly declined after, it remains above 60% in presidential election years.
• Political representation:
  As of 2023, there were a record 62 Black members of Congress, including the first Black minority leader in the House, Hakeem Jeffries. There are also over 1,000 Black elected officials at state and local levels nationwide.

💡 Health and Longevity

• Life expectancy:
  Between 1990 and 2020, the Black-white life expectancy gap narrowed from 7 years to about 4 years — largely due to declines in Black infant mortality and improvements in chronic disease management.

🌎 Cultural Influence

While harder to measure, Black Americans’ global cultural influence is enormous — from 80% of hip-hop’s U.S. audience being non-Black to Black athletes dominating leagues like the NBA (72% Black players) and the NFL (58% Black players), to the rise of Black designers, chefs, and influencers reshaping industries.