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Statement

It’s Black Women’s Equal Pay Day; Congress Must Act Now to Close the Shameful Wage Gap for Black Women

August 7, 2018
Equal Pay

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Monifa Bandele, vice president of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day – the day that marks how long Black women have to work in 2018 to catch up to what White, non-Hispanic men were typically paid in 2017.

“Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is an annual reminder of a gross and continuing injustice in our country. Today in the United States, Black women face a shameful wage gap of 63 cents on the dollar, and it is even worse – just 51 cents – for Black mothers.

“These losses add up: Black women are typically paid $21,000 less in wages each year than white, non-Hispanic men. A Black woman should not have to work more than seven months into the next year for her wages to catch up to those typically paid to a white, non-Hispanic man. Wage inequality for Black women persists at every education level and in every occupation. It is outrageous and must end.

“Black women deserve economic security, fair wages and an end to discrimination in the workforce, in health care and in the criminal justice system. If we want to stop observing this day, we must address the systemic inequalities that keep these wage gaps in place.

“Closing the pay gap should be a top priority for every lawmaker. It is long past time for laws that will bring real and lasting change. We urge Congress to advance policies that combat wage inequality and boost economic security, including fair pay, earned sick days, paid family and medical leave, and affordable child care. Congress must enact meaningful legislation, including the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act and the Healthy Families Act, that make our workplaces more fair. The wage gap that penalizes Black women must end."

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.