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After facing layoffs, Black women knew who to turn to for support: Black women

August 27, 2026

Following President Trump's executive orders dismantling DEI programs and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency cutting over 270,000 federal positions, Black women experienced disproportionate job losses as they held significant numbers of both DEI and federal government roles. By December 2025, approximately 820,000 Black women were unemployed, representing a 7. 3 percent unemployment rate comparable to White women's rates during the Great Recession.

Who is affected

  • Black women workers, particularly those in DEI roles and federal government positions
  • Tishayla Williams, 32, a veteran laid off from the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Tiffinie Julien, 50, a disabled veteran laid off from the Department of Education
  • Ritha Pierre, general counsel who left a Brooklyn nonprofit in July 2025
  • Kenyatta Victoria, culture and entertainment journalist laid off from Essence magazine in August 2024
  • Black recent college graduates struggling to find first jobs in their fields
  • Black women breadwinners supporting households with children
  • Over 270,000 federal workers who lost jobs through DOGE cuts
  • Nearly 300,000 Black women who left the workforce between May and June 2025

What action is being taken

  • Career coach Lani Shaw is helping women navigate their job hunts and advising them to document achievements and use AI tools strategically
  • Benét Wilson is mentoring early career journalists and encouraging networking and skill-building
  • Tishayla Williams founded The TW Collective, a consultancy firm helping Black women professionals and Black-owned businesses
  • Kenyatta Victoria continues writing through her Substack "Chronically Online" with over 600 subscribers
  • Tiffinie Julien is working in a remote government contractor role as a lead federal student aid regulatory analyst
  • Ritha Pierre is working as general counsel at Race Forward, a racial justice organization
  • Private companies are reneging on diversity commitments due to fears of legal repercussions

Why it matters

  • This situation matters because it represents the largest peacetime workforce cut in U.S. history, with Black women bearing a disproportionate burden due to their concentration in eliminated DEI and federal positions. The unemployment crisis among Black women has reached levels comparable to the Great Recession, threatening economic security for households where more than half of Black women serve as breadwinners despite facing the largest gender pay gap among all racial demographics. The layoffs have caused not only financial hardship but also significant mental and physical health impacts, with affected women experiencing stress-related symptoms, depression, and questioning their professional worth. This workforce disruption has long-term implications for racial and gender equity in employment, as well as for the economic stability of Black families and communities across the country.

What's next

  • Tiffinie Julien and others are looking toward municipal, county, and state government positions as alternatives to federal employment
  • Job seekers are being advised to continue networking, tailoring résumés for each application, and learning to work with AI tools
  • Women are encouraged to pursue skill-building activities, internships, and alternative career paths during unemployment
  • The profiled individuals suggest maintaining mental health through creative projects and transparent communication with support networks

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com