New Report: Black Women in California Face Stark Inequities – Yet Hold Remarkable Power

November 25, 2025

The California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute released its 2025 report revealing severe disparities facing California's 1. 2 million Black women and girls across economics, health, housing, and safety. Black women earn only 60 cents per dollar compared to White men, with 25% living below the poverty line and facing eviction rates nearly double other groups.

Who is affected

California's 1.2 million Black women and girls
Single Black mothers receiving food assistance
Over 454,000 Black women living in Los Angeles County
Black women leading over 80% of Black households as primary breadwinners
Black women-led organizations experiencing underfunding
Three Black women serving in Congress, nine in the state legislature, and 243 in local government positions
Survey respondents from EVITARUS study (56% experiencing workplace discrimination)

What action is being taken

The California Black Women's Health Project is combating health disparities through culturally rooted programs
Black women are volunteering in response to natural disasters, wildfires, and ICE raids
Black women are providing childcare to neighbors and family members and housing loved ones
Black women are donating money and time to their communities (over two-thirds according to survey)

Why it matters

This matters because Black women in California face compounding systemic inequities that affect entire families and communities, as over 80% of Black households depend on women as primary breadwinners. The wage gap won't close until 2121 at current rates, and severe health disparities result in Black women being six times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. Despite these obstacles, Black women serve as "net contributors" providing substantial portions of the social safety net through civic engagement, community support, and political leadership. As Griffin noted, improving conditions for Black women in California could set a national standard and improve trajectories across the country, making this both a justice issue and an opportunity for broad systemic improvement.

What's next

Expanding Black maternal health initiatives
Increasing investment in Black women-led businesses and organizations
Expanding STEM and leadership pipeline programs in schools
Broadening pay-transparency and equity laws
Mandating disaggregated pay transparency by race and gender
Conducting future research with more updated demographic analyses

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint