Raising Awareness for Black Women’s Equal Pay Day

This year, women across the United States are celebrating National Black Women’s Equal Pay Day on Wednesday, July 9.

This holiday is celebrated every year and aims to raise awareness and find ways to change policies to close the wage gap faced by black women.

In 1967, Black women were paid 45 cents for every dollar their white counterparts earned. By 2022, that margin has shrunk to 26 cents, according to the National Women’s Law Center. At 69 cents on the dollar, activists like Sara Taylor are reaching out to Black women to help them negotiate the pay they deserve.

“When we think about wages and equity, it has a ripple effect on homeownership, investment (and) the wealth gap,” Taylor said. “We’re going to have those tough conversations, but our goal is to come away from here with strategies.”

Taylor and other speakers led exercises for a group of women that taught them how to take inventory of their skills and values ​​and how to advocate for themselves at work.

“It’s rarer that you get to see an African-American woman in a very high position or even a position of power. To be able to hear their stories and how they got there and were able to maintain that position speaks volumes,” said Nya Afrika, an attendee at the event.

Part of the day also includes calls to action to pass laws that protect workers and defend against discrimination, including the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act.