Dear John,

Did you know Black women face a substantial wage gap, leading to a loss of $1,843 per month, $22,120 per year, and an astonishing $884,800 over a 40-year career?

Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, and we won’t let it pass without bringing attention to the stark reality facing Black women in the workforce. The persistent wage gap for Black women is not just a number; it demonstrates the impact of both racism and sex discrimination on Black women in the workplace.

John, we can take concrete steps to close the wage gap by reaching out to Congress. The Salary Transparency Act would promote pay equity by requiring employers to provide salary ranges to job seekers and workers.

Key highlights from our report on the wage gap for Black women:

• Black women working full time, year-round only make 69 cents for every dollar white men make.
• This wage disparity persists across all education levels, with Black women needing a master’s degree to surpass the earnings of white, non-Hispanic men with an associate degree.
• Despite educational achievements, Black women continue to earn less than their white male counterparts, stifling their ability to invest, own a home, save for retirement, and create lasting generational wealth.

Secrecy around pay allows the devaluation of Black women’s work to go unchecked and allows unjustified wage gaps to grow. The Salary Transparency Act would help combat the racial and gender pay gap by shining a light on employers’ pay practices and helping to level the playing field in pay negotiations.

Throughout history, Black women have been the backbone of our economy, contributing significantly to its growth, innovation, and resilience. Now it's time to demand a future where Black women are valued and compensated fairly for their work.

In solidarity,

Gaylynn Burroughs
she/her/hers
Vice President for Education and Workplace Justice
National Women's Law Center