By D.M.Livingston|Op-Ed Desk|Published Jun 22, 2024

Waterbury-In the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement forced America to confront its own contradictions. Through the courage of everyday people and the leadership of figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the nation dismantled the legal foundations of segregation and discrimination. Landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 marked a turning point in expanding rights and access for Black Americans.

But six decades later, the question is no longer whether progress was made.

The question is: why has that progress slowed—and in some cases, stalled?

The Stagnation of Black Progress

Despite early victories, measurable gains for Black Americans in key areas—economic mobility, education, and political representation—have plateaued.

Economic Disparities
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income for Black families in 2022 was about $45,870, compared to $74,580 for white families. That gap has barely moved in decades. Unemployment for Black Americans, while improved overall, still consistently tracks at roughly twice the rate of white Americans.

Educational Inequities
High school graduation rates have improved, but the gap widens at the college level. As of 2023, about 24% of Black Americans aged 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to roughly 40% of white Americans—fueling ongoing income and wealth disparities.

Political Representation
There have been historic milestones, including the election of Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. Yet Black Americans, who make up about 13% of the U.S. population, hold only around 9% of seats in Congress—still underrepresented in the very system that shapes policy and power.

Competing Causes, Shrinking Attention

In recent years, the national conversation has broadened to include many urgent and necessary causes—LGBTQ+ rights, global conflicts, gender equity. These are real and important struggles.

But the reality is this: attention is finite.

And when media coverage, political capital, and public urgency are heavily concentrated elsewhere, long-standing issues facing Black Americans—systemic racism, economic exclusion, and policing disparities—too often drift to the margins.

• The push for LGBTQ+ equality has achieved major legal victories, including nationwide marriage equality.
• International crises—from Ukraine to the Middle East—dominate headlines and shape federal priorities.
• The rise of movements for women’s rights, including #MeToo, has transformed public dialogue around gender.

All of these movements matter.

But when the fight against anti-Black inequality loses urgency in the national conversation, the underlying conditions don’t pause—they persist.

And for Black women in particular, the intersection of race and gender often leaves their specific challenges overlooked in broader movements.

SLAVE-IGRATION. Why Black American Voices Should Matter Most on Immigration in America.

The Need for Rebalanced Advocacy

Addressing this imbalance doesn’t mean diminishing other causes. It means refusing to let Black progress become a secondary priority in the nation that still carries the legacy of slavery, segregation, and structural discrimination.

A renewed focus must include:

• Economic investment in Black-owned businesses, workforce development, and homeownership
• Educational reform, including stronger support for HBCUs and equitable school funding
• Criminal justice reform that addresses over-policing, sentencing disparities, and accountability
• Political empowerment, including voting protections and fair representation through redistricting

These are not new ideas.
They are unfinished obligations.

Conclusion: It’s Time to Listen Again

The Civil Rights Movement proved that when America is forced to listen, change is possible.

But progress doesn’t sustain itself. It requires continued attention, political will, and public pressure.

As new issues rise and compete for the nation’s focus, we must ask a difficult but necessary question:

Has America stopped listening to Black voices with the same urgency it once had to?

Because the fight for Black rights in America is not history.

It is present tense.

And if we were talking then—
it’s time for America to listen again.

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