Faces of Power: 80% Are White, Even as U.S. Becomes More Diverse
By Denise Lu, Jon Huang, Ashwin Seshagiri, Haeyoun Parkand Troy Griggs
The most powerful people in the United States pass our laws, control Hollywood’s studios and head the most prestigious universities. They own pro sports teams and determine who goes to jail and who goes to war.
A review by The New York Times of more than 900 officials and executives in prominent positions found that about 20 percent identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, multiracial or otherwise a person of color. More than 40 percent of Americans identify with one of those groups.
Even where there have been signs of progress, greater diversity has not always translated to more equal treatment.
25 people command the largest police forces. 14 are Black or Hispanic.
While half of the 25 largest police forces are run by people of color, the shootings and killings of Black people by white officers this year are a painful reminder of systemic bias. The rise of people of color to positions of leadership has not been a guarantee against the targeting of marginalized groups.
29 prosecutors charge people with crimes in those jurisdictions. 12 are Asian, Black or Hispanic.
Almost half of the district attorneys in the cities with the largest police forces are people of color. Jackie Lacey, Los Angeles’s first female and first Black district attorney, has been criticized by the Black Lives Matter movement for resisting efforts to reduce prison populations, which often have disproportionately high numbers of Black and Hispanic people. The group has endorsed Ms. Lacey’s challenger in a closely watched race for November.
24 people lead the Trump administration. 3 are Asian, Black or Hispanic.
In other parts of government and the economy, the lack of diversity in top positions is striking. President Trump’s cabinet is more white and male than any first cabinet since President Ronald Reagan’s.
9 justices sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. 2 are Black or Hispanic.
Since 1789, all but six Supreme Court justices have been white men.
8 men are military chiefs. 1 is Black.
The racial makeup of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stands in stark contrast to that of active-duty members, more than 40 percent of whom are people of color.
Of the people at the top of the 25 highest-valued companies, 6 are Asian or Black.
Fewer than a quarter of the most valuable public companies are run by people of color, and Black leaders are becoming less represented in these roles. There are now four Black chief executives running Fortune 500 companies, down from six in 2012.
Of the people who head universities ranked in the top 25, 1 is Hispanic.
Among the universities ranked in the top 25 by U.S. News and World Report, none are led by Asian or Black academics, and only one school is led by a Hispanic president. While the number of Asian students at elite schools has increased, Black and Hispanic students are less represented than they were a generation ago, government data shows.
15 people direct major news organizations. 3 are Black or Hispanic.
The news industry is spread across a range of media. These are the top editors of the six newspapers with the largest circulations, the three major broadcast networks, the three big cable news channels and the websites with the most monthly visitors.
The 5 people who have the most influence over book publishing are all white.
The heads of the so-called Big Five publishers shape literary culture and are responsible for the vast majority of best-selling books.
The people who edit the 10 most-read magazines are all white.
Collectively, the publications with the largest print and digital audiences reach hundreds of millions of readers a month.
14 people oversee most of the music that is produced and played. 2 are Black or Hispanic.
For an industry that owes much of its fortunes to Black artists, there are few executives of color among those who run the three major label conglomerates that account for roughly three-quarters of the market, the six major streaming services and broadcasters, thie three publishers that generate the most revenue and the two concert promoters that put on most shows.
