Celebrating Progress, Confronting Inequality: The Future of Black Political Power
By Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
When the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies opened its doors in 1970, there were only 1,469 Black elected officials in office across the United States. Today, over 10,000 Black leaders serve at every level of government, from city councils to statehouses to the United States Congress. These milestones are historic, yet they also compel us to confront the sad reality that over 160 years since the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and 60 years beyond the historic 1960s civil rights legislation, African Americans are still fall far short in terms of overall economic well-being and political representation. This duality — celebrating progress while recognizing the challenges in front of us — defines the spirit of Black History Month for 2025.
At the Joint Center, we have long recognized that economic and political power are the twin foundations to overcome the white supremacist legacy from which our nation was birthed. While the growth of Black political leadership is encouraging, representation alone does not guarantee systemic change, and today, even that progress in Black political representation is threatened. We have regressed from African Americans holding 11% of the highest ranking, commissioned officer positions within the White House — nearly reaching the 14% share of the U,S. population that African Americans hold — to our current Presidential administration with only one Black cabinet nominee, returning to the poor Black representation of the 1980’s.
But when we look past today’s new Presidential administration, there is still much to celebrate. Black political representation has reached historic highs. Today, we have one Black governor, Wes Moore of Maryland — only the third Black governor elected in U.S. history. We have set a new record with five Black leaders serving in the U.S. Senators: Angela Alsobrooks, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Raphael Warnock, Cory Booker, and Tim Scott. The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has also achieved historic milestones, with 62 members, marking its largest membership yet.
At the local level, Black political leadership is flourishing. With a record 143 Black mayors across the country, Black leaders are at the helm of major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. These leaders are shaping not only their own cities, but urban policy across the nation and molding the direction of the states of which they are often the economic hubs.
Economic progress has accompanied these political milestones. Black Americans have achieved record levels of economic well-being in recent years, including historically low unemployment rates, a median income of $56,490, and median household wealth of $44,900. But while these figures are encouraging, they remain overshadowed by persistent racial disparities. White households, for instance, maintain a median wealth of $285,000, highlighting the country’s deep racial economic divide and the uphill battle for Black economic advancement.
To continue the African American tradition of struggle for advancement, which in turn advances the entire nation and is the core of our Black History celebrations, African Americans must continue to build coalitions that address shared socio-economic challenges across racial and ethnic lines. Economic security, the need for a living wage, access to affordable housing, and moving communities out of asset poverty — these are the policy battle lines that our historic number of Black elected officials must continue to wrestle.
Recent attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are another area demanding focus. We cannot allow the Trump administration’s witch hunt for those who have advocated for expanded opportunities for underrepresented communities to be used to turn back the slow, gradual progress in Black political power.
The Joint Center was born from the Black freedom tradition, not from a desire for surface-level diversity, but from the need for true systemic change. Our mission has always been to work alongside Black elected officials, Black communities, and our network of allies to advance political and economic empowerment. As we navigate these challenges, we draw strength from this tradition and our remarkable progress.
Looking ahead, we must use the historic levels of Black political representation and economic progress as a platform for even greater change. The next two- to four years present unique opportunities for collaboration and advancement. While congressional power remains fluid in a divided government, strategic coalition-building can help us address persistent disparities and create a more equitable future.
At the Joint Center, we remain committed to advancing Black political and economic power. By partnering with Black leaders and allies, we aim to harness the potential of 21st-century Black political power to continue the fight for justice and equality. Let this Black History Month remind us that progress is possible, even in the face of persistent challenges. Together, we can honor the sacrifices of those who came before us and pave the way for a brighter future for generations to come.