Cleveland, Ohio— Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day.
That means black women had to work all of last year and until this day in 2019 to catch up with what white men were paid in 2018 alone.
- Regardless of their occupation, education, or years of experience, black women are still paid less than white men
- Nationally, a black woman earns 61 cents to every dollar that a white man makes, and in Ohio, it's 64 cents
- State reps have introduced the "Equal Pay Act" five times in the past 10 years and are preparing to introduce equal pay legislation again
“Black women are doctors, black women are lawyers, black women are on the trades, we’re in every union there is represented, we’re doing it all,” said Ruth Irene Gray, president, National Congress of Black Women Greater Cleveland Chapter.
But black women are not being paid equally.
Many Americans don’t realize a pay gap for black women exists, but black women not only realize it— they see it in their paychecks, they feel it in their pockets, and they’re forced to raise their families with less.
“I have my own experience of working in an environment knowing that I was coming to replace a man, but knew that they were going to pay me five thousand dollars less than him,” said Rep. Stephanie Howse (D-11).
“Just as a councilperson, how difficult it was as a black woman to advance, how difficult it was for me to have discussions as a legislator in a small municipality about the issues that impact our families,” said Gray.
“I said, ‘five dollars? That’s no, no’… he says, ‘no, I made five dollars an hour,’ and I said, ‘what do you mean you make 5 dollars a hour? I don’t make 5 dollars an hour,’ and it got quiet,” said Davida Russell, state president, Coalition of Labor Union Women.
But now equal pay advocates are making noise about that fact that regardless of their occupation, education, or years of experience, black women are still paid less than white men.
“I didn’t feel necessarily that I was confident to push back to them then, but now if I was put in that position… oh, I’m ready,” said Howse.
“Nationally, a black woman earns 61 cents to the white man.
What that looks like here in Ohio is 64 cents to the dollar.
So, women in Ohio are doing three cents better.
But better isn’t equal.
“Nine hundred forty-six thousand, one hundred twenty dollars is lost over a 40-year career for African American women compared to men…why?” said Russell.
“My value as a person, my value as an employee, my value as an economic well being of this community, and the money that I spend should be of the same value as a white man…it just should be,” said Gray.
In April, Ohio Democrats introduced the “Equal Pay Act” for the 5th time, and although lawmakers have been hesitant to approve legislation assuring equal pay in the state, representatives like Howse don’t plan on giving up.
They will soon be introducing House Bill 304.
“First, require all entities that get a contract with the State of Ohio to sign an equal pay certificate indicating that you’re paying employees the same amount of money for the same amount of work,” said Howse.
“Second, the second thing it will do is set a scale of the classifications of workers and how much they should be paid, because many times women just don’t know how much they should be paid,” added Howse.
“Third, whistle blower protection… if you have a wage discrepancy, the State of Ohio will add cover for you when you bring it up,” Howse said,
“Fourth, new to the legislation, will prohibit employers from asking people their past salary… if you start off behind you’re always going to be behind,” said Howse.
Advocates agree that although today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, equal pay is not only a black women’s issue or fight.
“Not only black women should have equal pay, but white women, Hispanic women, all women should have equal pay,” said Russell.
“If we all don’t have each other’s back, then we won’t be able to unify and get what we all deserve,” said Howse.
Native American and Latina women Equal Pay Days won’t arrive until September 23rd and November 20th.
