Dear John, 

This week we’re marking Equal Pay Day for Black women. What does this mean? Well, on average Black women make just 63 cents for every dollar white men are paid. It took an additional 215 days for them to earn what white men did in 2020. In other words, Black women had to work 580 days just to make what white men did in 365 days. Terrible, right?   

We cannot achieve gender equity without racial equity. On Black Women’s Equal Pay Day and beyond, we must work to dismantle barriers and systems of oppression holding women of color back: occupational segregation, low pay, health inequities, racial gaps in education, and more.

One of the ways we can begin to address the racial and gender wealth gaps is by cancelling student debt and making college free. Check out our article on how student debt and Equal Pay Day are connected!

Then, join us in taking action! Tell President Biden to cancel student debt AND tell Congress to pass free college legislation! This is a racial and gender justice issue, and we can’t wait for equity in higher education. We need to make it happen now.

Best, 

Ella Azoulay
Program Coordinator
Generation Progress