Dem lawmakers, activists get #PayBlackWomen trending

Democratic lawmakers, nonprofit organizations and activists came together to get #PayBlackWomen trending on Tuesday to shed light on income inequality and unemployment rates among African-American women.

The hashtag, coined by writer and activist Leslie Mac, accompanied tweets from Democratic Reps. Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.) and Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), among others. 

{mosads}”Black women are the backbone of our communities and are often the breadwinners of our families, but Black women earn only 67 cents per dollar compared to white men,” said Christine Bennett, a spokeswoman for Clarke, in a statement to The Hill.

“In short, black women aren’t getting nearly as much out of our economy as they’re putting into it,” Bennett added. “As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, a caucus that aims to address issues important to black women, like economic equity, it was critically important that Congresswoman add her voice to today’s conversation.” 

Clarke also co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, of which Watson Coleman was a founder.

Women of color constitute 7.1 percent of all members of Congress, with 18 black female lawmakers in the House and only one black female senator. 

Despite having the highest rate of labor force participation of any demographic, black women are unemployed at 2x the rate of white people, have the highest rates of underemployment of any demographic, and are more likely than their white female peers to be fired. #PayBlackWomen

— Yvette D. Clarke (@RepYvetteClarke) July 31, 2018

Black women in the United States who work full time, year-round are paid 63 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men, according to The National Partnership for Women and Families.

The #PayBlackWomen hashtag, promoted with an image that reads “how the economy fails black women,” is intended to promote messages that lay out statistics and personal stories about black women’s unjust interactions with the economic system. 

Black women have the highest rates of college attendance and workforce participation of any demographic group, but end up with more student debt, lower wages, and less wealth than their white and male counterparts. #PayBlackWomen pic.twitter.com/VVZmSkFCar

— April (@ReignOfApril) July 31, 2018

Several activists on Twitter focused on June’s landmark Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME, which dealt a blow to public-sector unions. The case ruled that forcing public employees to pay union fees amounts to a violation of their First Amendment rights. 

“Collective bargaining is important for all workers, but especially workers who experience discrimination in the labor market,” tweeted a representative from the anti-poverty nonprofit Center for Law and Social Policy.

Collective bargaining is important for all workers, but especially workers who experience discrimination in the labor market. Weakening public sector unions disproportionately hurts Black women’s ability to gain access to good jobs that pay decent wages #PayBlackWomen https://t.co/G66xd8ZRgU

— Angela Hanks (@AngelaHanks) July 31, 2018

Ohio state Rep. Emilia Sykes joined the fray with an additional hashtag: #WeBelongHere.

Despite excelling in graduation rates, leadership effectiveness, & talent, Black women must work 8 additional months to receive the same amount of money as our white makes counterparts. This isn’t right! #WeBelongHere so #PayBlackWomen pic.twitter.com/C3oeXk3KB8

— Emilia Sykes (@EmiliaSykesOH) July 31, 2018