The African American demographic is on the rise. According to recent U.S. Census 2010 projection reports, African Americans are 42 million strong. In fact, there is optimism in the air as African Americans are truly beginning to have a clear and certain voice.
Beginning with the election of President Obama, African Americans have gone from a subtle walk to a confident stride in what appears to be a renewed optimism for the segment.
According to the Pew Research Center, “Despite the bad economy, blacks’ assessment about the state of black progress in America have improved more dramatically during the past two years than at any time in the past quarter century.”
Things really have been getting better for African Americans. They are more likely to be your everyday suburban neighbor than you might think. In fact, if the current migratory trend continues, more than half of the African American population will be in the “burbs” in five years.
If you think that is interesting, listen to this. The number of African American households that make $75,000 a year has increased by 47 percent and tend to skew a bit younger (18–49). Meaning: more money in a consumer segment that spends more than the general market.
It’s worth noting that during the worst economic cycle since the Great Depression, the sense of progress that African Americans are feeling has nearly doubled. It also appears that both white and black people are acknowledging that the standard-of-living gap that currently exists is quickly melting.
So now, the question remains: how do you harness this optimistic momentum?
