Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is a day of observance intended to bring awareness to the pay inequities Black women face in the United States. According to sources, more than a holiday or day of awareness, this day is intended to serve as a call to action and catalyze meaningful change to close the wage gap. I was thrilled to appear on KBLA Talk 1580’s First Thing’s First with Dominique DiPrima, one of the most trusted voices in Los Angeles community advocacy, to discuss the importance of this day of observance.
I am also the host of KBLA Talk 1580’s Legal Lens with Angela show which airs each Saturday at 11am PST and each Sunday at 1pm. Hence, I was honored to join my colleague and leading KBLA Talk 1580 host Dominique DiPrima on her show.
As a legal commentator and media personality, it is my passion to educate the general public on the latest in employment law, workplace trends, and policies. For employers and employees alike, gaining awareness of this pressing issue is essential to building a more equitable future. Learn what we discussed and potential paths toward closing the pay gap.
Legal Commentator on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day & Its Significance
It was an honor to join the riveting radio show KBLA Talk 1580’s First Thing’s First with Dominique DiPrima as a legal commentator on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which fell on July 9th, 2024.
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day began in 2020 as an extension of Equal Pay Day, for which the National Committee on Pay Equity created a day of observation in 1996.
Initially, this movement revolved around efforts to raise awareness about alleged implicit discrimination in the workplace and equal pay. However, as a national dialogue about race opened up in May 2020 following the death of George Floyd, the spotlight on inequality turned toward taking a view into corporate America and practices with respect to issues of equal and equitable pay for Black women and others. This day was created to work toward closing that wage gap and creating more welcoming, equitable work environments.
This day of recognition was created to highlight the wage gap for Black women compared to non-Hispanic white men: 69 cents for full-time, year-round workers. When you broaden the scope, the wage gap widens to 66 cents for all Black women earners compared to all working non-Hispanic white men, including full-time, part-time, and part-year workers.
Per the Institute for Women’s Policy Research:
“Progress has slowed markedly during the last 20 years compared to a longer time horizon…Based on trends during the last two decades, it will take over 200 years–until 2227–for Black women’s pay to equal White men’s for full-time, year-round workers, and until 2362 to reach pay equity with all earnings. These shocking projections point to the low job quality and poor advancement prospects faced by many Black women, who are more likely to be in the labor market and, when they are, less likely to work part-time than other women.”
– New Fact Sheet from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research
In 2024, National Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is observed on July 9th. The date of observation changes each year. This year, July 9th was selected as a reflection of how long into 2024 it would take for Black women as a whole to work to make what White non-Hispanic men were paid in 2023. So, as these statistics change, so will the date change from year to year, hopefully for the better.
Related Appearance: Equal Pay Day – Black News Channel – BNC (March 24, 2021)
How to Improve Pay Disparities on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day
There are many efforts afoot to try addressing the pay gap between Black women and others. One recommendation advanced by Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, is for Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. If passed, DeLauro suggests that such a law would modernize and strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to combat pay discrimination and close the wage gap by protecting workers from retaliation for discussing pay, banning the use of prior salary history, providing stronger remedies, and codifying pay data collection, among other amendments.
Advocates also are urging Congress to pass:
- The Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act, which is a comprehensive legislation to address workplace harassment, including extending federal protections against harassment and other forms of discrimination for all working people.
- Comprehensive leave policies, such as the FAMILY Act, the Healthy Families Act, the Job Protection Act, the Caring for All Families Act, and the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act, which would provide paid sick days and paid family and medical leave.
Closing this wage gap is no small undertaking, but rest assured, I will be on the watch to see how this issue continues to evolve and will be prepared to educate readers and followers on any new developments.
Related Appearance: Equal Pay Day – Good Day LA – Fox 11 (March 24, 2021)
Thought Leader & Legal Commentator Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, Pay Equity, & DEI Policies
Wage gaps are a persistent economic issue with various contributing factors. Addressing these disparities requires collaborative efforts from both employers and employees. For employers and employees alike, understanding the reality of this pervasive pay gap and the action they can take to help close it is absolutely essential to build a brighter future for our nation. As a thought leader and legal commentator on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, DEI Policies, and all aspects of employment law, I am uniquely positioned and qualified to provide expert insight and analysis on all employment law issues. These issues can be complex, so you need a seasoned legal professional to shed light on them. My passion is being a beacon in uncertain times of transition that provides that light and a path toward change.
Legal Commentator on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day & Other Breaking Employment Law News & Trends
I am a former employment and labor law attorney turned mediator, ADR, and conflict resolution specialist who believes it is crucial to stay current with groundbreaking changes to employment law for employees and employers alike. My passion is educating the general public on DEI policies, recent developments in employment law, and the workplace trends that impact them as a thought leader and legal commentator. As such, I am uniquely qualified to discuss the importance of Black Women’s Equal Pay Day and our collective path toward meaningful change. My more than 20 years of experience as a media legal analyst and contributor have led to my own radio show on Tavis Smiley’s KBLA Talk 1580, “Legal Lens with Angela Reddock.” I also am a regular speaker and blogger on employment law and issues related to the workplace.
Also, learn more about my book – The Workplace Transformed: 7 Crucial Lessons from the Global Pandemic – here – https://angelareddock-wright.com/book/.
For media inquiries, please reach out to josh@kwsmdigital.com.
For more information regarding mediation and dispute resolution resources for both employees and employers, connect with me on LinkedIn for new updates or contact me here. You may also follow me on Instagram.
This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment law attorney in your state or city.