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By the time the internet finally “discovered” something, Black folks have usually already been doing it for years; in fact, they were probably already bored and moved onto the next trend. From fashion and language to dance and meme-worthy expressions, Black culture has been the blueprint behind a majority of it. Here’s a look into some of the biggest trends that were thriving in Black communities before they became internet sensations.
- Edges
Before TikTok tutorials and $30 edge brushes, Black women had already mastered the art of swooped baby hairs with a toothbrush and some gel. But laying edges goes way back — according to NKENNE, it was popularized as early as the 1920s by icons like Josephine Baker, whose sculpted swoops were bold, beautiful, and unapologetically Black.
During the Civil Rights era, laid edges became a form of cultural expression and pride, often paired with afros and braids. By the ’90s, edge styling was a full-blown art form in Black and Afro-Latinx communities, long before it hit Pinterest boards.
So no, it’s not a “new trend.”
- “It’s Giving…” Everything
Long before TikTok copycats and late-night ads, “It’s giving…” emerged from Black queer ballroom culture of the 1980s — a succinct way to describe moods, vibes, and even whole aesthetics. According to Later’s social media glossary, phrases like “It’s giving face” or “It’s giving body” instilled confidence and charisma in ballroom performances. Today, the internet uses it just as powerfully: “It’s giving disco queen,” “It’s giving vacation mode,” and “It’s giving my mood.” It’s a humorous, flexible phrase that’s been doing big work long before it ever hit your Instagram captions.
- Black Twitter: The Cultural Think Tank
Black Twitter wasn’t discovered by the internet—it built the internet’s cultural blueprint. As The New York Times explains, it’s “a multiverse, simultaneously an archive and an all-seeing lens into the future”, a place where jokes, commentary, and activism flowed in real time. From early memes like #YouKnowYoureBlackWhen in 2009 to hashtags such as #OscarsSoWhite and #BlackGirlsAreMagic, Black Twitter has flexed serious cultural muscle.
It’s been a magical blend of comedy, critique, and community which users were calling “one giant group chat” during tough times like the Great Recession.
It also served as a truth-teller and watchdog, live-tweeting tragedies like the killing of Michael Brown in 2014 and spotlighting cases such as Shanquella Robinson’s death, helping to drive a national conversation and even FBI investigations. That cultural engine is being tested as Twitter becomes X under new ownership. Still, as scholars note, Black users have historically turned every platform into their own space, and that creative spirit isn’t going anywhere.
- The Original TikTok: Cookouts, Church, and Block Parties
Before dance challenges went viral online, Black communities were already going off at block parties. According to Smithsonian Magazine, the first hip-hop block party was thrown by DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell in 1973 in the Bronx. What started in a rec room quickly spilled into the streets, sparking a movement.
Block parties weren’t just fun — they were resistance, joy, and culture in motion. DJ sets, breakdancing, and community vibes? That’s the blueprint. TikTok could never.
- Nail Art: When Your Hands Speak Louder Than Words
Before minimal neutral nails became a Pinterest favorite, nail art in Black salons were already maximalist, an unapologetic statement of creativity and autonomy. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture highlights how Black women have used bold and intricate nail designs not just for style, but to assert independence and challenge Eurocentric beauty ideals.
Starting in the 1990s, artists like Bernadette Thompson (credited with innovations like the iconic “money nails” for Lil’ Kim in 1999) propelled nail art into a cultural phenomenon. She embedded real dollar bills into acrylics, so avant-garde that MoMA acquired a pair, making the set the first-ever museum-held nail art. Thompson’s work helped shift perceptions, bringing elaborate nail art from street culture to high fashion and gallery walls.
Today’s glitter, gems, 3D charms, and rhinestone florals didn’t appear out of thin air—they’re part of a bold legacy rooted in Black salon culture and artistry long before anyone coined it the “maximalist girl era.”
- Slang You Thought Was New
Those viral phrases you see everywhere? They’re part of a time-honored tradition rooted in Black queer and ballroom communities, long predating their mainstream fandom.
According to Columbia Spectator, many Gen Z staples like “slay,” “sis,” “periodt,” and “queen” come straight from Black LGBTQ culture and AAVE, a distinct dialect of English spoken by many African Americans. These terms are not internet inventions — they evolved organically in ballrooms, social circles, and community spaces before trending hashtags repackaged them for mass consumption.
Examples:
- “Slay” meant delivering flawless elegance.
- “Sis” was a communal acclaim among Black women.
- “Periodt” offered emphatic closure, often with a snap.
- “Queen” honored brilliance and dignity.
People now live and caption these terms daily, yet the Columbia Spectator rightly points out that they’re “detached from their original contexts,” erasing the vibrant cultural landscapes where they were born.
- Streetwear Was Always a Thing
Streetwear didn’t start with hypebeasts—it started in Black and hip-hop communities decades ago. Strike traces its origins back to the 1980s but notes the style truly exploded in the ’90s during hip-hop’s Golden Age, when baggy pants, oversized jackets, snapbacks, and Air Jordans became iconic thanks to artists using fashion in music videos and award shows.
Brands like FUBU, Sean John, Karl Kani, Phat Farm, and later Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons catered directly to Black youth, embedding streetwear into cultural identity. Nike’s 1985 introduction of Air Jordans, propelled by athletes and rappers, made sneakers a central pillar of the look.
Over time, these styles—huge pants, layered jackets, bold logos—became streetwear templates, only later co-opted by mainstream retail and influencers. The framework was already there; the internet just hit “repost.”
Respect the Blueprint
Black culture has always been 10 steps ahead, creating, innovating, remixing, and serving long before an algorithm caught on. The internet might think it “discovered” things, but we know the truth: Black communities have been setting trends not just online, but IRL, with style, soul, and zero apologies.
So next time someone calls a trend “brand new,” ask them to check in with Black culture first. Chances are, they did it first and better.
