Ben Shapiro Asserts America is Better Than Ever, Cites Progress for Black Americans
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has ignited fresh debate over the trajectory of the United States, arguing that America is not in decline but stronger and more prosperous than at any point in its history. Speaking in a recent discussion, Shapiro dismissed the widespread notion that the country has lost its vitality, instead pointing to rising living standards, expanded freedoms, and significant progress for historically marginalized groups, particularly Black Americans.
Shapiro’s Challenge: “Name a Time That Was Better”
Pressed on whether he would concede that America is not what it once was, Shapiro responded firmly: “No. America is, in many ways, better than it ever was.” He then posed a provocative challenge, asking his counterpart to name a period in history that was better for Black Americans. When met with silence, Shapiro clarified that while American society still battles inequality and division, the progress achieved since the mid-20th century remains unprecedented.
He contrasted current realities with life in the 1950s and 1960s, noting that while those decades are often nostalgically remembered for strong manufacturing economies, they were also defined by racial segregation, limited civil rights, and grueling factory labor.
“The work was tough, the hours were long, and opportunities for advancement were scarce,” Shapiro emphasized. “Today, we have the option of professional environments, technological advancements, and freedoms unimaginable to generations before.”
Historical Context: From Segregation to Modern Opportunity
The comparison of eras is central to Shapiro’s argument. In the 1950s and 1960s, Black Americans were systematically excluded from many professions, lacked the protections of voting rights in large parts of the country, and faced institutionalized segregation. It was a period marked by both grassroots civil rights struggles and structural obstacles to socioeconomic mobility.
Since then, landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 dismantled many barriers that had persisted for centuries. Educational attainment among African Americans has steadily risen, with high school and college graduation rates increasing significantly. Meanwhile, representation in leadership roles—from business to politics—has expanded dramatically.
Shapiro’s challenge places these shifts in perspective, suggesting that even amid ongoing debates about equity and systemic inequality, the present landscape provides opportunities that were structurally denied just a few generations ago.
Economic Growth and Life Expectancy Gains
Shapiro also highlighted broader societal gains, citing life expectancy as a powerful measure of progress. At the dawn of American independence, the average life expectancy hovered in the mid-30s. By the 21st century, this figure had climbed into the late 70s and early 80s across much of the Western world.
He credited such transformations to a combination of Enlightenment ideals, the protection of private property, free-market systems, and technological innovation. According to global health data, these developments have not only transformed Western nations but have also extended benefits to less industrialized regions. Countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America have recorded dramatic increases in life expectancy since the mid-20th century, mirroring gains first achieved in the West.
Poverty as Humanity’s “Natural State”
Shapiro further emphasized that poverty is not an anomaly but historically the norm for human civilization. “The story of the last several centuries is not that people are poor; it’s that people have exploded into prosperity,” he argued.
He identified what he considers key behavioral steps to secure upward economic mobility: graduating high school, getting married before having children, and holding steady employment. According to Shapiro, only 2% of individuals who follow these steps fall into persistent poverty in the United States.
Though his framing has been debated among economists—given structural obstacles like wage stagnation, housing affordability crises, and healthcare costs—it underscores his emphasis on personal responsibility in shaping economic destiny.
The Age of Convenience: A Modern Contrast
Shapiro also pointed to the conveniences of modern life compared with past decades. He highlighted technological breakthroughs such as smartphones, which place the world’s information at one’s fingertips, and rapid logistics systems that make same-day or two-day product delivery routine. These conveniences, he suggested, reflect an unprecedented quality of life.
By contrast, even as recently as the 1980s, people relied on pay phones for communication and had limited consumer options confined by geography. In his view, these simple quality-of-life comparisons underscore the fact that daily living in America, despite its challenges, remains superior to what came before.
Acknowledging Modern Challenges
While optimistic about the direction of American progress, Shapiro conceded that the nation faces turbulence. He noted:
- Urban Unrest: Episodes of violence and unrest in major cities like Los Angeles and Chicago have required state intervention and deployment of the National Guard.
- Community Decline: Traditional community bonds have weakened, with many neighborhoods experiencing declines in civic engagement.
- Polarization: Political divisions have intensified, making national consensus on major issues difficult.
- Race Relations: Surveys show race relations have declined since around 2011, despite material progress.
For Shapiro, however, these disruptions represent symptoms of social discord rather than evidence of deep structural deterioration. He views America’s economic resilience, cultural dynamism, and relative freedom as outweighing its divisions.
Regional Comparisons and the Global Context
In placing America’s position in context, Shapiro argued that relative to global and historical benchmarks, the country continues to stand out. A comparison with European nations shows similar gains in life expectancy and wealth, yet he underscored that the U.S. maintains a stronger tradition of private enterprise and social mobility.
Globally, the World Bank and United Nations data confirm sweeping reductions in extreme poverty—from over 40% of the world’s population living on less than $2 a day in 1981, to less than 10% in recent years. Emerging economies like India and China have benefited from market reforms, while developing regions in Africa have recorded improvements in public health and education.
Shapiro’s framing situates America as a central driver of these global economic shifts, exporting innovation and business models that contributed to these widespread gains.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Debate
Reactions to Shapiro’s remarks have reflected America’s polarized climate. Supporters praised his insistence on acknowledging progress, particularly around race and opportunity, as a counterweight to narratives of national decline. Critics argued that while historical progress is undeniable, the suggestion that structural inequities have been entirely overcome is overly simplistic.
For many Americans, the debate touches on a core national tension: balancing acknowledgment of past and present injustices with recognition of economic and technological progress. It also raises the question of whether prosperity and freedom alone adequately define “better” in a society where divisions persist.
Looking Forward: Measuring Progress Beyond Nostalgia
Shapiro’s commentary underscores a broader conversation playing out across American households, universities, and policy forums. Is the nation truly in decline, or are current perceptions shaped more by political strife, media cycles, and nostalgia for an imperfect past?
Historical data support his argument that measurable quality-of-life indicators—life expectancy, educational attainment, technological innovation, and civil rights protections—are better than in previous generations. At the same time, new challenges, from public health crises to political division, complicate the picture.
As the United States moves deeper into the 21st century, this balance between progress and discontent is likely to remain a defining topic. Shapiro’s remarks resonate not simply because of their political provocation, but because they anchor contemporary anxieties within a larger historical narrative: that despite hardship, America’s trajectory has been one of improvement, innovation, and resilience.
At more than two centuries old, the American experiment continues to confront contradictions between ideals and realities. Yet, as Shapiro argues, the nation is living through an era of material abundance and expanded freedoms unparalleled in its history. Whether such advantages can outweigh the challenges of polarization, inequality, and shifting cultural bonds remains the central question facing a society constantly renegotiating what it means to thrive.