2026 is proving to be a year of questionable opportunity and scattered bright spots artistically and culturally. For American citizens of color, it continues a trend of polarization that has existed for the past two decades.
This year is the second year of a second term of a previously elected president with questionable returns on campaign promises. A pledge to direct hundreds of millions in funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities was blunted by simultaneously eroding prospects for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), along with other progressive legislation. While efforts to facilitate affordable housing are in the works, nothing concrete has manifested itself.
All this ensures that the trend toward Black resettlement outside Los Angeles and California in general will continue. This pattern has become so notable that it has generated a slang term, the “Blaxit” (short for Black exit or exodus). Curiously, educational opportunities for all Americans have been hampered by dwindling aid and funding.
The Obama Presidential Library opened in Chicago to fanfare and attendance by a multi-racial contingent of celebrities.
American music is Black music, and the 2026 GRAMMY Awards reinforced that reality in February. Hip-hop or Rap continued its sway across global culture, with Kendrick Lamar and SZA leading the charge in major categories. Brandy and Kirk Franklin received Black Music Icon Awards, while Pharrell Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.
Black representation in the greater entertainment industry made significant gains, especially with the stellar performance of “Sinners,” which has grossed in excess of $350 million. During the 2025 Academy Awards in March, it garnered 16 Oscar nominations, resulting in four wins, including Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Cinematography.
African American athletes continue to have a profound impact in the realm of sports, albeit with the usual caveats and shortcomings. The percentage of African American players in the National Football League (NFL) fluctuates between 53 percent and 70 percent. Of the 32 teams in the NFL, only three coaches are Black. They are Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Aaron Glenn with the New York Jets, and DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans. As the summer winds down, of the ten coaching openings available, none were filled by Blacks.
Meanwhile, the National Basketball Association has the highest percentage of Black players. None of its teams that won titles during President Donald J. Trump’s previous tenure accepted his invitation to the White House. The possibility of the current champion, the New York Knicks, accepting the visit is up in the air.
