Let’s talk about that moment at the XCEL Summit when Coca-Cola CEO Troy Taylor stood up and said what so many have been wanting to hear: America wouldn’t be America without Black people. Period.
He didn’t whisper it. He said it straight — we built this country. From the soil, the railroads, the sound of our music, to the soul of its culture — our fingerprints are on every inch of America’s foundation. And as we move toward America 250, the big celebration marking 250 years since the founding of this country, Troy posed a question that hit different:
How will Black America celebrate America 250?
Now that’s a question that don’t just ask about parties and fireworks. It’s a question about presence. About recognition.About ownership of our history and our legacy.
Because truth be told, we’ve been showing up for America since day one — even when America didn’t show up for us. From the enslaved Africans who built its wealth, to the soldiers who fought for freedoms they weren’t allowed to have, to the creators who turned struggle into rhythm and rhythm into revolution — Black people are the heartbeat of this nation.
So when a CEO like Troy Taylor — a Black man at the top of a global company like Coca-Cola, which happens to be a major sponsor of America 250 — takes that moment to remind the world of our impact, it’s more than just a corporate statement. It’s a cultural callout.
And he’s right. We can’t let America celebrate 250 years of history without the truth — that we made America what it is. Every victory, every innovation, every piece of “American culture” has roots that trace back to us.
But Troy’s question also challenges us — not just to reflect, but to respond.
How will we celebrate?
Will we reclaim our stories?
Will we use this moment to remind the next generation that “Black history” is American history?
Will we build something — schools, art, movements, legacies — that make sure our contribution is never erased again?
Because this milestone isn’t just for America. It’s for us too.
It’s for the ancestors who never got their credit.
It’s for the dreamers who kept creating even when they weren’t invited to the table.
It’s for the builders, the teachers, the healers, the hustlers, the believers — who carried this country on their backs while still having the heart to love it.
Troy Taylor’s words weren’t just powerful because of his position — they hit because they’re true. America wouldn’t be America without Black people. And as the country gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, we have to make sure our celebration is just as loud, just as proud, and just as undeniable.
So maybe the real question isn’t just how Black America will celebrate — but how America will finally celebrate us…
