Who are today’s rising black political stars?

Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Mass.) with his biggest fan, President Obama.
Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Mass.) with his biggest fan, President Obama.

Today’s rising political stars differ distinctly from their predecessors.


This wave of politicians are highly accomplished, very well-educated, fiercely independent and extremely eloquent outsiders who do not fit the mode of the legacy civil rights era politician. Before they burst onto the national scene, most of these politicians were much better known outside of the black community than within it — a stark and startling contrast from the Rev. Jesse Jacksons and Maxine Waterses and others who are directly linked to the political upheaval and rebellion of the 1960s and are unapologetically pro-black.


Moreover, cross-over appeal gives them access to funding and support from groups that, in the previous generation, were not entirely supportive of black politicians of the post civil rights era.

Who are the African American political stars of today and the immediate future? Let’s take a look. 


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