CALIFORNIA BLACK WOMEN FACTS
OVERALL
Black Women in California have a unique challenge that create significant barriers and disparity gaps. The intersection of race and gender along with systemic inequalities make it hard to sustain economic stability.
• 2 in 5 Black women find it challenging to pay for basic expenses
• 4 in 5 Black women report difficulty dealing with inflation
• 8 in 10 Black women report a top concern is being discriminated against or mistreated because of their race or gender
• 4 in 10 Black women said racism and discrimination have limited their income and earning
• Black women have a 90% wealth gap (90% less wealth) in comparison to white men.
• The average cost of childcare for an infant makes up 30 percent of a Black woman’s average income in California and 50% of housing.
• More than a third of Black females live in poverty, which is the largest percent among all Women.
• 67% of Black households are headed by single mothers along with 80% of the household have Black Women breadwinners compared to 41% for White, 56.4% for Hispanic, 24.9% Asian Pacific Islander (API) and 66.3% Native American Women.
• California Black Women make far less than white males at $.60 to every dollar and Single Black Moms at $.57, which is nearly $.20 lower than White Women. Over the last decade, all California women except Black Women have decreased the wage gap. California Black women’s wage gap has increased.
• On average, Black Women in California spend 50% on housing and 30% on childcare, higher than any other group.
• Nearly 60% of Black Women, which is the highest among Women, are in the workplace with median earnings of $43K compared to White Women’s $52K and API Women’s $50K. Hispanic and Native American Women earn less at $30K and $38K respectively.
• However, Black Women have the highest unemployment rate at over 6%, which is more than all Women.
• 48% of low- and moderate-income Black Women 18 years and older are food insecure.
• One out of four Black Women working are in service occupations. Nearly 40% are in managerial or professional occupations compared to more than 50% for White
and Asian Women.
• Black Women only represent 7.7% of Women on businesses in California. White Women owned businesses are 62.3%, Hispanic Women are 27.7%, API Women are 14.3%, Native American Women are 16.9% and Other Women owned businesses are 13.2%.
• In addition, the bulk of Black Women owned businesses are micro‐enterprises.
• 23% of Black Women in California have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 39.3% of White, 47.3% of API, 12.1% Hispanic, 14.3% Native American and 38.1% other Women accounting for only 4% of women with bachelor’s degrees in the state.
• Black Women take on more debt than any other group and repaying loans impede their ability to pay other essential expenses.
• Black Women are 5.7% more likely to receive subprime mortgage and 8.5% more likely to receive a high-cost subprime mortgage than Black Men and 256% more likely than White Men.
• 1 out of 3 Black Women delay care due to copays, deductibles and financial issues.
PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
Black women face disproportionate levels of physical violence that threaten their safety and well-being, both historically and today.
● Homicide: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 33% increase in homicide rates for Black women and girls in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, Black women are six times more likely to be killed than white women.
● Domestic Violence: Over 40% of Black women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime higher than the national average of 30.2% for white women. In California, 42.5% of Black women report experiencing intimate partner violence compared to 39.3% of white women and 30.2% of Hispanic women (Blue Shield Report on Domestic Violence in Black Communities).
● Murder Rates in Los Angeles: Despite making up just 4.3% of the population, Black women account for 33% of female murder victims in Los Angeles (LA Civil Rights Report, 2022). In the 77th Division police district, Black women represent 55% of female rape victims.
● Police Violence: Nearly 200 people in California die annually during police encounters, with Black people disproportionately represented. Black women experience a heightened risk of over-policing, brutality, and medical neglect while in custody. Black girls aged 15-19 are four times more likely than white girls to
require emergency hospitalization after encounters with law enforcement (University of California, Berkeley).
● Sex Trafficking: In Los Angeles, 92% of the girls in the juvenile justice system identified as victims of sex trafficking are Black.
● Violence Against Black Trans Women: Black Trans women and femmes face disproportionately high rates of violence, with 86% of fatal violence against Trans individuals in the U.S. targeting Black Trans women (2022 Report). Despite these alarming figures, violence against Black Trans women is frequently underreported or misclassified.
ECONOMIC VIOLENCE
Economic violence perpetuates inequality and severely limits Black women’s financial freedom and security.
● Wage Gap: Black women earn just 66.5 cents for every dollar earned by white men (2024 Wage Gap Report). This disparity persists even when controlling education and experience.
● Underrepresentation in Leadership: Despite Black women’s strong participation in the workforce, they remain significantly underrepresented in high-earning industries and leadership roles. In 2024, promotion rates for Black women regressed to a four-year low, and it may take 40 years for Black women to reach leadership parity with white men.
● Multiple Jobs: 2 out of 5 Black women in California report being one paycheck away from financial instability, and 37% work two or more jobs. Of those with multiple jobs, 67% say it is essential to meeting their financial obligations (California Black Women Voter Poll).
● Burnout: Black women report high levels of workplace burnout due to microaggressions, lack of support, and disproportionate caregiving responsibilities. These challenges contribute to the "broken rung" in career advancement.
SOCIAL VIOLENCE
Social violence, exacerbated by environmental and technological harm, further marginalizes Black women and girls.
● Environmental Racism: Black women disproportionately live in areas with hazardous waste sites, high pollution, and food deserts. In West Oakland, Black women have a life expectancy 15 years shorter than white women living in Oakland Hills.
● Maternal Health: Black women in California are three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related causes. Additionally, Black mothers report higher rates of prenatal and postpartum depression.
● Online Harassment: Black women, particularly those in social justice work, are frequent targets of online abuse. Black women are 84% more likely than white women to be mentioned in abusive tweets. Post-pandemic, this abuse increased by 38%. With the rise of doxing, online harassment often escalates into real-life stalking (NYU Report on Technological Violence).
CONCLUSION
Addressing the multi-layered issues and violence against Black women, girls and transgender females requires systemic transformation. The California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute is dedicated to dismantling these systems through policy reform, public advocacy, and financial investment. Only by confronting misogynoir at its roots can we create a future where Black women and girls are safe, empowered, and valued.