By California Black Women’s Collective
“I am my sister’s keeper,” recited Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, a leading scholar on intersectionality, during her powerful TED Talk addressing the systemic violence endured by Black women and girls. Yet, despite compelling calls for action, the reality for Black women in America remains stark—a reality defined by physical, economic, and cultural violence that persists unchecked across generations.
Black women and girls face a uniquely perilous existence. Layered forms of oppression not only demean but disarm those at the intersection of race and gender, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable to violence, societal neglect, and systemic discrimination. This investigative piece dives into the data, the stories, and the institutional failures that perpetuate this crisis while calling for collective accountability and change.
Cultural Violence and the Policing of Identity
The violence against Black women is not confined to homes or neighborhoods but extends to areas that should serve justice, like the policing system. Black girls, for example, disproportionately bear the brunt of law enforcement violence. Black girls aged 15-19 in California are four times more likely than white girls to require emergency medical attention following encounters with law enforcement. These traumas leave scars beyond the physical—eroding trust, fostering fear, and entrenching community-wide despair.
Environmental and Workplace Violence
The violent inequities faced by Black women extend beyond the overt and physical. Subtle, chronic aggressions in the workplace are another battlefront. Dubbed the “broken rung,” Black women face an unrelenting cycle of microaggressions and minimal support. They experience widespread burnout, born out of being undervalued and underrepresented in leadership roles—an all-too-common struggle for women navigating institutions designed with systemic bias embedded in their foundations.
The economic violence that Black women face is both systemic and pervasive, manifesting through unyielding disparities within the workforce and economic opportunities. Despite contributing significantly to the labor market, Black women in California earn a mere 60 cents for every dollar received by white men, and Black single mothers make 57 cents. This wage gap is more than a number—it encapsulates the ongoing struggle against racial and gender-based economic oppression. In California, the harsh reality is that 2 out of 5 Black women report experiencing financial instability, according to a 2023 study commissioned by California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute. The pressure to make ends meet forces 37% of these women to work two or more jobs, with a staggering 67% asserting that holding multiple roles is crucial for covering essential monthly expenses.
For too long, Black women have carried the burden of being society’s backbone without society offering its shoulders in return. This cannot endure. Institutions, lawmakers, and communities must now act in unison to dismantle the many layers of violence and oppression that Black women and girls endure daily.
The Call to Action
Real Steps Forward:
- Strengthen Legal Protections
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) must expand and enforce provisions that adequately reflect the challenges Black women and girls uniquely face. Advocates urge refinements, including measures specifically tailored to address racial disparities.
- Support Black-led Advocacy Programs
Grassroots movements and organizations, including the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, California Black Women’s Health Project and the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, continuously work to dismantle systemic violence. Supporting these initiatives isn’t charity—it’s justice.
- Demand Accountability in Law Enforcement
Police departments must reform training and oversight to reduce the violence inflicted upon Black women, particularly Black girls and trans women, during police encounters.
- Increase Maternal Health and Workplace Equity
Institutional commitment to eradicating racial bias in healthcare and workplace environments can close concerning gaps in maternal mortality and mental well-being.
- Hold Platforms Responsible for Digital Harassment
Tech companies need policies enforcing greater accountability for online abuse targeting marginalized groups.
- Advocate for Policy Change
Engage in local and national initiatives aimed at closing the wage gap and enforcing pay equity laws. Demand legislative action that supports living wages and dismantles discriminatory barriers in employment.
- Support Black-Owned Businesses
Make a conscious effort to shop at and invest in Black-owned businesses. This boosts economic growth within communities and supports the financial independence of Black women entrepreneurs.
- Pressure Corporations for Transparency
Demand that companies disclose their pay scales and diversity metrics publicly. Encouraging transparency can pave the way for accountability and fairness in pay across all levels.
- Educate and Raise Awareness
Share information and resources about economic violence to increase public understanding and mobilize collective action. Awareness breeds change.
- Invest in Financial Literacy and Support Programs
Contribute time, money, or resources to programs that offer financial education and support for Black women seeking to expand their business or improve their workforce skills
