In "We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy," Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses the misleading perception of advancements in wages and employment for African American males. He argues that this perceived progress obscures the realities faced by the most vulnerable individuals within this demographic. By selectively presenting data, the official statistics provide a false sense of improvement while neglecting those struggling the most.

This careful omission of marginalized voices highlights systemic issues and reinforces inequality. Coates emphasizes that true progress cannot be accurately measured if it ignores the hardships of the most disadvantaged. Thus, understanding the complete picture requires a critical look at how statistics are used and the people they leave behind.