Black Women’s Equal Pay Day marks a crucial moment to recognize and address the persistent wage disparity faced by Black women in the workforce. On average, Black women earn just 66 cents for every dollar earned by their non-Hispanic white counterparts, leading to an annual loss of over $22,000. Over a 40-year career, this disparity amounts to nearly $1 million less in earnings for a Black woman with a bachelor’s degree compared to a white man with the same qualifications.
Tarika Barrett, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at Girls Who Code, in a LinkedIn post highlights these inequities and emphasizes the need for systemic change. At Girls Who Code, the focus is on empowering young women and nonbinary individuals of color to pursue careers in tech, where Black women earn significantly more—92 cents to the dollar in 2022. However, they still hold only 3% of computing jobs in the US. Barrett calls for a profound cultural shift within the tech industry to ensure Black women have equal opportunities and to tackle the systemic racism that often targets them.
Actionable Solutions from Danielle Kristine Toussaint
Danielle Kristine Toussaint, a Fractional C-Suite Leader and Founder at Purple Haus, provides actionable solutions to combat this wage gap and support Black women economically. She offers a comprehensive list of steps that individuals and organizations can take to make a tangible difference:
- Hype us: Engage with Black women-owned businesses on social media and promote their products and services.
- Spend your money with us: Prioritize purchasing from Black women-owned businesses.
- Share your network with us: Facilitate professional connections for Black women to help them advance in their careers.
- Speak up for us: Address potential biases and discrimination in the workplace.
- Sponsor us: Mentor and sponsor early career Black women, providing them with meaningful opportunities and support.
- Talk money to us: Advocate for pay equity audits and coach Black women on negotiating for better pay and positions.
- Build community with us: Volunteer with organizations supporting Black women’s economic empowerment and recruit top talent from these communities.
- Stay informed about us: Share information about the income gap and its impact on Black women.
- Invest in us: Ensure diverse suppliers are used and paid equitably.
- Brag about us: Publicly endorse and refer Black women professionals after a job well done.
By implementing these strategies, we can work towards a more equitable future where Black women receive fair compensation and recognition in the workforce. The involvement of leaders like Tarika Barrett and Danielle Kristine Toussaint is vital in driving this change and ensuring that the contributions of Black women are valued and rewarded.