By Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, not just any day of the year. Its date is actually symbolic every single year, adjusting to the approximate day a Black woman must work into the new year to make what a white non-Hispanic man made at the end of the previous year. Based on the ACS Census data, the 2021 wage gap for Black women compared to non-Hispanic white men is 58 cents.
This year, BWEPD falls over a MONTH later than last year. That means our wage gap is widening instead of closing. It’s imperative that we demand pay equity for Black women, many of who are thought-leaders, leading their communities and fighting against systemic anti-Black racism–including where it shows up in the workplace. What can you do as a Black woman? Build your personal brand so that it is guaranteed a no-brainer “YES” when you ask for a salary that matches your worth and expertise! And please make sure you check the Bureau of Labor Statistics to make sure your salary is equitable to your non-Hispanic white counterparts.
It’s been time to secure the bag, Sis!
What do you think?