As a Black American who grew up in the Jim Crow South, I was offended by the video President Donald Trump posted on social media depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. Trump should apologize to help bring the country together. White people of good conscience should also speak out against the president’s actions, which dehumanize Black people.  

The insensitive action of the leader of the free world during Black History Month is especially hurtful. It will not help improve the pessimism Americans have regarding whether Black people will ever achieve full equality in America. Trump’s post gives a nod to white supremacists and does nothing to promote positive race relations in America. 

A Pew Research Center survey last year found nearly half of Americans don’t believe that Black people will eventually have equal rights with white people. Fifty-one percent of Americans believe Black Americans will achieve full equality with white Americans, whereas 49% express doubt that Black people will ever have equal rights, up from 39% in 2020. Interestingly, two-thirds of Black people surveyed do not believe we will ever reach full equality with white people.   

Trump’s legislative actions have made it more difficult for Black citizens to achieve full equality. The White House’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act 1965 and education have set Blacks back decades.  

The Black community is facing several interconnected challenges, driven by policy changes. The Trump administration has effectively eliminated the Minority Business Development Agency. The MBDA, housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the sole federal agency dedicated to assisting minority business enterprises in overcoming social and economic disadvantages by helping expand minority business enterprise’s access to capital, untapped markets, business contracts and other resources.

Most equity studies suggest it will take centuries for Black Americans to reach full parity with white Americans. If this is widely known, why aren’t Black elected leaders acting with a sense of urgency — proposing targeted policies to help close socioeconomic and wealth disparities?

Equality is important because it creates a stable society by ensuring all individuals have equal rights, opportunities and protection from discrimination. An equal playing field reduces poverty, drives economic development and promotes social cohesion. Equality leads to healthier communities and improved access to education for all. The absence of equality creates instability in society and conflict.  

It is shameful that we are fighting some of the same battles the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for in the 1960s. The issues of poverty and redlining in the ’60s have been replaced with home equity theft, unemployment, overincarceration of Black men and underperforming schools. It is clear that post-Civil Rights Movement legislation has failed to address widening racial disparities in health, wages, wealth and homeownership for Black Americans.  

Who bears accountability and responsibility for the lack of Black progress and equality in America? In ancient Egypt, the pharaoh was the supreme authority over the Israelites. In America, pharaohs come in all colors, and they all share one common trait — they bend to the knee of the almighty dollar.  Black pharaohs or elected leaders have kept the masses of our people in a perpetual state of poverty and hopelessness. Perhaps white elected leaders should encourage Black politicians to pass legislation making life more equitable for their communities.  

Too many Black politicians are more concerned about fitting in than transforming their communities. They are more interested in going along to get along. They run on platforms to fight for jobs, safer streets and quality schools. Once elected, Black politicians join the corrupt system they promised to fight. Meanwhile, the Black community spirals downward with respect to equality. 

The Democratic and Republican parties are responsible as they have become two wings of the same broken bird that have failed to help Black citizens achieve full equality. We need Black leaders who will straighten their backs and challenge the status quo. The so-called progressive movement has done little to close the equity gaps between Black and white people.

The majority of the detainees in the Cook County Department of Corrections are Black. The Black population in Cook County is close to 23%. There is something wrong with this great disparity.  

The following are suggestions to help Black people attain equality in America:

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch should introduce a Marshall Plan focused on resources for Black communities experiencing high levels of unemployment, violence and low-performing schools.
Gov. JB Pritzker and Welch should conduct a study exploring why a majority of the detainees in the Cook County and Illinois Department of Corrections are Black.
Pritzker and Welch should ensure Black-owned businesses are receiving state contracts from agencies that reflect or exceed their population numbers. 
Welch should dramatically increase access to state capital dollars for Black-owned businesses.
Pritzker and Welch should work to get legislation passed that allows school choice.  
Faith leaders should encourage their members to vote in the upcoming election for someone who will represent their interests. 

We are all interconnected, and when the Black community is equal, America is a stronger nation.  

I write this commentary to make those comfortable with denying Black Americans full equality uncomfortable.

Willie Wilson is a business owner, philanthropist and former mayoral candidate. 

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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/12/opinion-black-equality-obamas-racism/