We are in the midst of a “Black Renaissance,” to use author Ibram X. Kendi’s term, and it is good for America and long overdue. But just as important is how it happened — and how it can be a model for a more equitable and inclusive America.
For decades, of course, many of the most celebrated people in America have been Black, particularly in fields such as acting (think Denzel Washington), sports (Michael Jordan) and broadcasting (Oprah Winfrey). But Black people still remained locked out of many spaces, and particularly from powerful roles in them. Now, Black Americans are taking the lead in fields as far-flung as comic-book writing and TV-show development. They are gaining top jobs in powerful organizations, allowing them in turn to make those institutions even more open to Black consumers and employees. Black intellectuals and writers such as Nikole Hannah-Jones and Heather McGhee are changing how Americans of all races think about government and politics.
