Black Women Facing Racism In The Workplace

More than half of Black women (57%) in California who participated in a survey have experienced racism and/or discrimination at work, according to a report published by the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CBWCEI).

Conducted by EVITARUS, a public opinion research firm, the study surveyed 452 Black women in California to examine the realities of their lives in the workplace. The survey explored job satisfaction among Black women, including experiences of racism and discrimination in the workplace and important aspects of a job.

Approximately 1.1 million Black women live in California.  In December 2024, 63% of Black women participated in the workforce in California, according to data from the Employment Development Department.

As the Trump administration mandates the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the federal sector, this rollback has spread to the private sector as well. With the lack of protections and opportunity offered by diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Black women may experience additional discrimination and barriers in the workplace.

Dr. Shakari Byerly, managing partner of EVITARUS Research, explained that the intersection of gender and race are contributing factors to the discrimination Black women face in the workplace.

“The compounding nature of being both Black and female — so it’s not either or…specifically being a Black woman is unique,” Dr. Byerly explained as she pointed out that this intersection was evident in the survey response regarding skin tone.

According to the key findings, “Nearly half of Black women in California (49%) feel marginalized, excluded from, or passed over for, opportunities at work.” Excerpts from some of the respondents highlight how they are held to different standards than colleagues or face exclusion due to having darker skin.

Black women in the workplace experience such microaggressions at an individual level, while also confronted with system and structural barriers such as the increasing wage gap. In 2022, in California, Black women earned an annual median wage of $40,000 compared to white men who earned  $71,189 — a $31,189 earnings gap each year, according to an analysis by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. 

“This data highlights that we haven’t made much progress in moving the needle. Systemic barriers still exist when it comes to Black women, even in a liberal state like California,” said Glenda Gill during a media briefing about the report. Gill is the president and CEO of Save A Girl, Save A World, a non profit mentoring organization.

While this study is limited given the size of those surveyed, the findings illustrate the intersecting barriers and challenges Black women encounter in the workplace. The report also offers legislative and non-legislative policies and recommendations that can be implemented to “advance workplace equity for Black women.”

Among the legislative policy recommendations for advancing workplace equity for Black women are enforcing the Black Women’s Pay Equity Act that will close gaps in the Equal Pay Act and require annual pay audits disaggregated by race, gender and job descriptions. Non-legislative policy recommendations include strengthening bias training, implementing restorative justice approaches to workplace harassment and creating public scorecards on workplace equity.

By: Breanna Reeves-March 11,2025