This year, women across the U.S. are observing National Black Women’s Equal Pay Day on Wednesday, July 9.

The holiday is observed annually and is dedicated to raising awareness and finding ways to change policy to close the pay equity gap Black women face.

What You Need To Know

  •  Wednesday, July 9 is Black Women's Equal Pay Day.

  •  The day is dedicated to raising awareness around the pay gap Black women face.

  •  Women observing the day use it to arm one another with knowledge and power to get the pay they deserve.

  • Black women make 69 cents for every dollar their white male counterparts make.

In 1967, Black women were paid 45 cents for every dollar their white counterparts made. In 2022, that margin has decreased by 26 cents, according to the National Women’s Law Center. At 69 cents for every dollar, advocates like Sara Taylor are addressing Black women about the issue and how to negotiate for the pay they deserve.

“When we think about pay and equity, it has such a trickle effect on affordability of homeownership, investments [and] the wealth gap,” said Taylor. “We’re going to have those difficult conversations, but our goal is that we will leave here with strategies.”

Taylor and other speakers led exercises for a group of women teaching them how to take inventory of their skills and values, and how to advocate for themselves at work.

“It’s more rare than it should be that there’s an African American woman in a very high position or even just high in power. So being able to hear their stories and hear how they got there and was able to maintain that position, speaks volumes,” said Nya Afrika, an attendee of the event.

Part of the day also includes calls to action to pass legislation protecting working defending themselves against discrimination, including the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act.