The average Black woman working full time, year-round only earns 67 cents—and all workers, including part-time, 64 cents—for every $1 paid to the average white, non-Hispanic man, according to the latest available Census data.
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is being observed on Thursday, July 27, this year—meaning it takes Black women seven months to earn what white men made in 2021 alone.
Today marks an annual day of action and awareness-raising, calling national attention to the wage gap experienced by U.S. Black women due to discrimination, occupational segregation, and other systemic factors.
Inequities in pay only exacerbate the compounding oppression of being both Black and a woman in this country. Gender justice must be married to racial justice in order for there to ever be a semblance of equal pay.
According to research from Equal Rights Advocates, 50 percent of Black and Latina women say they are struggling to make ends meet, especially since the pandemic, when increased caregiving responsibilities, layoffs, debt and other factors made it even more difficult to achieve financial stability. The aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision has exacerbated these financial disparities, diminishing economic mobility and security for families nationwide.
Take Action: Contact Your Lawmakers
Take action to ensure the economic security and prosperity for Black women by emailing your representatives and governor. The emails are already drafted. Just enter your information and click send! Email Congress about the Paycheck Fairness Act. Email about your state’s infrastructure.
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U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political participation and representation. For 50 years, Ms. has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help, Support Ms. today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you. For as little as $5 each month, you’ll receive the print magazine along with our e-newsletters, action alerts, and invitations to Ms. Studios events and podcasts. We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity.
