As dazzling gowns and cutting-edge fashion from this year’s Met Gala flooded social media, one voice cut through the glamour with a sobering reality check.
Madam PreZident, the outspoken host of the 100% Politically Incorrect podcast and a prominent voice on social media, delivered a powerful critique on May 7 that questioned the value of Black representation at elite events when the wealth generated never cycles back into Black communities.
“The Met Gala was stunning… but tell me this: what part of all that Black Dandyism actually reaches Black communities the way our entertainers’ dollars reach white ones?” she wrote in an Instagram post to her thousands of followers.
In an accompanying video, she expanded on her concerns, pointing to the gala’s record-breaking $31 million fundraising total, a figure higher than any in the Met Gala’s 77-year history — yet, she argued, it came at the expense of uncompensated Black cultural labor.
“They said, ‘Super fine, come in Black style,’” she noted. “But just know that it [the money] doesn’t come back to Black people.”
Tickets for this year’s Met Gala reportedly cost up to $75,000 each, with entire tables going for $350,000. Despite the theme’s focus on “Black evolution, Black talent, Black entertainers, Black creativity,” Madam PreZident says the communities from which that talent originates reap no tangible benefits.
Citing her visit to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, she questioned why Black celebrities rarely lend their star power to Black arts institutions.
“Imagine if they donated or even loaned their Met Gala outfits to African American museums,” she suggested. “Those could be used as cultural attractions, drawing crowds and support to spaces that are too often underfunded.”
Her message also touched on the late fashion icon André Leon Talley, a longtime Met Gala fixture who reportedly died broke despite decades of influence in fashion.
“He was the person always at the Met Gala,” she said, “but for some reason, all of his fashion and all of his expertise never translated to wealth.”
The commentary struck a chord online, resonating with those who see the disconnect between Black cultural brilliance and economic empowerment, but others disagreed with point of view.
“Because of this year’s theme, as a gesture of goodwill, a percentage of proceeds (say 10%) should’ve been set aside and donated to a few local Black arts institutions like the Studio Museum and MOCADA,” one person commented.
Another person slammed her criticism of this year’s gala as unfair:
“It goes to the school & they have black students. And do you really know if they don’t support?…”
Madam PreZident wants the wealth within the industry to reach Black artists too:
“Wealth is not something you just say with your mouth. It’s an ecosystem. It’s leveraging talent,” she said. “We are that for them.”
Madam PreZident’s remarks, while blunt, call for reinvestment into Black artists and institutions that promote Black creativity.
Here’s a list of Black-owned or Black-led museums and cultural institutions across the United States that readers can support to help reinvest in Black arts, history, and storytelling:
National-Level Institutions
- National Museum of African American History and Culture – Washington, D.C.
nmaahc.si.edu
Part of the Smithsonian Institution, this museum is the flagship of African American history and culture in the U.S. - The African American Museum in Philadelphia – Pennsylvania
aampmuseum.org
Founded in 1976, it was the first institution built by a major U.S. city to house and interpret the life and work of African Americans. - The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center – Chicago, IL
dusablemuseum.org
One of the oldest independent African American museums in the country. - The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History – Detroit, MI
thewright.org
Home to more than 35,000 artifacts and one of the largest African American history collections in the world. - California African American Museum (CAAM) – Los Angeles, CA
caamuseum.org
Located in Exposition Park, CAAM promotes the rich legacy of African Americans in California and the western United States.
Independent & Community-Based Spaces
- The Studio Museum in Harlem – New York, NY
studiomuseum.org
Celebrated for showcasing the work of emerging and established Black artists. - Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida – Miami, FL
theblackarchives.org
Dedicated to preserving the history of African Americans in Miami’s Historic Overtown neighborhood. - Mississippi Civil Rights Museum – Jackson, MS
mcrm.mdah.ms.gov
Highlights the role Mississippi played in the national Civil Rights Movement. - The Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice – Montgomery, AL
eji.org
Founded by the Equal Justice Initiative, these spaces reckon with America’s history of racial injustice. - Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) – Seattle, WA
naamnw.org
Focuses on the art, history, and culture of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest.
Ways to Support
- Become a member or donor
- Attend exhibitions and events
- Promote them on social media
- Volunteer or offer professional services
- Encourage celebrities and influencers to partner or donate exhibits
