Black culture is Black excellence.
For years, I’ve wrestled with the question: What is Black culture? Is it the same as Black excellence – or merely different in name? Is there even such a thing as Black culture?
As a Black man growing up in America, I’ve asked others these same questions. Some offer thoughtful answers. Most pause, unsure of how to respond. And yet, when you ask people from other ethnic backgrounds about their culture, they often light up with pride. They speak with clarity, recalling traditions, foods, dances, languages, and beliefs passed down through generations.
But for African Americans, the story is different.
The trauma of slavery – inflicted at the highest levels and sustained over centuries – systematically stripped our ancestors of their language, customs, and spiritual practices. That cultural erasure wasn’t accidental; it was intentional. It was designed to break spirits and erase identity. And from this forced void, something remarkable began to take shape.
Black culture, as we know it today, was born right here on American soil. After being stripped of everything they once knew, our ancestors began to create something entirely new. Over time, they became African Americans – simply Black – and from that pain emerged strength, creativity, and perseverance. A culture was forged in fire, yet still radiant and beautiful.
Black culture is the result of survival. It is the product of resilience in a land where the odds have been stacked against us. It’s what we built in the face of dehumanization, criminalization and marginalization. We created communities, music, fashion, language, art and social movements – all while told we didn’t belong, weren’t enough or didn’t matter.
That’s what makes Black culture not just valid, but extraordinary.
In the face of unimaginable hardship, we didn’t just survive – we thrived. We carved out joy, style, rhythm, and soul against a backdrop of struggle. We made something out of nothing, again and again.
Black culture is, in many ways, the blueprint for popular culture. From jazz, blues, and hip hop to fashion, slang, and dance, our influence is everywhere. And let’s be clear: this is no accident. Black culture resonates because it is real. It is authentic, raw, and deeply human. It is born from pain, yes – but also from joy, love, faith, resistance, and an unshakable belief in tomorrow.
When I speak of Black culture, I am also speaking of Black excellence. They are not separate – they are intertwined.
Excellence is what happens when we rise above every barrier placed in front of us. It’s found in our academics, artistry, athleticism, entrepreneurship, and activism. It shines in every field where Black people thrive – not because we were handed opportunities, but because we worked twice as hard for half as much.
This country has tried to suppress our progress at every turn. Systems were built to exclude us. Laws were passed to keep us down. Narratives were spun to demonize us. Still, we rose. And not only did we rise – we set trends, broke barriers, and redefined what leadership and brilliance look like.
We became the heartbeat of a nation that once denied us a seat at the table.
There is nothing more American than the story of the Black man and woman. We are the face of struggle, yes – but also of strength, triumph, and transformation. We are proof that beauty can emerge from brokenness and that hope can rise from hardship. That is the essence of Black culture.
So when I ask what Black culture is, I realize now – it’s everything. It’s pain and power. Rhythm and resistance. Fashion and faith. Protest and poetry. Hip hop and healing.
It is excellence – Black excellence.
Think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who led with love and unshakable conviction in the face of hate. Think of Maya Angelou, who turned pain into poetry. Think of Serena Williams, who defied every stereotype on the court. Think of Michael Jordan, who globalized a sport. Or Malcolm X, whose self-determination empowered generations.
These are not just icons. They are living proof of what Black excellence looks like in action.
And beyond the famous names are countless others who never had the chance to let their light shine. This culture – created not by choice, but by necessity – has become a force that shapes not only America, but the world.
And in doing so, it affirms something I believe with every fiber of my being:
Fain is president of the Black Prisoners Caucus at Airway Heights Correctional Center.