How Black Celebrities Became Our Thought Leaders

In this episode, I’m unpacking the difference between visibility and leadership, and why fame should not automatically make someone a spokesperson for millions of people. We’ll talk about how America rewards entertainment, how Black intellectuals have been pushed to the margins, and how the decline of Black institutions created space for celebrity culture to fill the vacuum. 00:00 Intro 01:49 Visibility Is Not Leadership 05:36 America Rewards Celebrity 10:00 Black Communities Built Leaders 13:52 The Fall of Black Institutions