First published on LinkedIn.
We just completed the first month of 2025 during this incredibly unprecedented time. We are under the threat of books and the true history of America being removed from schools, rewriting the facts and attempting to erase history.
Like last month, I want to remind everyone how far we have come over the last 400 years as we continue to advocate for Black equity throughout America. #WeWillNotGoBack
1619: The first recorded enslaved Africans arrive in English North America at Point Comfort, Virginia.
1662: Virginia declares that children born to enslaved women are also slaves.
1776: The United States declares independence, but slavery remains legal.
1808: The importation of slaves becomes a federal crime.
1861-1865: The American Civil War is fought, leading to the abolition of slavery.
1865: The 13th Amendment abolishes slavery in the United States.
1868: The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to all born in the U.S., including former slaves.
1870: The 15th Amendment prohibits denying the right to vote based on race.
1896: Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court decision upholds "separate but equal" racial segregation.
1909: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded.
1920s: The Harlem Renaissance flourishes, showcasing African American cultural expression.
1954: Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision overturns Plessy v. Ferguson, declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
1955: Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
1963: Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington.
1964: The Civil Rights Act is passed, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
1965: The Voting Rights Act is signed into law, prohibiting racial discrimination in voting.
1968: Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
2008: Barack Obama becomes the first Black man to be elected as President of the United States.
2020: The murder of George Floyd sparks nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice.
2023: The Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act is signed into law, making lynching a federal hate crime.
Here’s another timeline detailing the history of Black Americans.
Alongside these monumental dates, it is critical to understand how these events have perpetuated the gap in generational wealth and pay equity. Enslaved Black people were denied the opportunity to accumulate wealth or own property, and even after emancipation, discriminatory policies and practices, and racial terrorism continued to hinder economic progress.
The "separate but equal" doctrine upheld by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 institutionalized racial segregation, limiting Black Americans' access to quality education, housing, and employment opportunities.
Systemic Barriers
Housing Discrimination: Practices like redlining and discriminatory mortgage lending have historically blocked Black families from homeownership, a crucial foundation for building wealth. As of 2022, there was still a 30% gap in homeownership rates between Black and White families.
Income Disparity: The Black-White income gap has grown from $23,700 in 1970 to $33,000 in 2018. This persistent income inequality makes it difficult for Black families to accumulate savings and invest in wealth-building assets.
Education: While education is often seen as a key to narrowing the wealth gap, systemic inequalities in the education system have perpetuated disparities.
Intergenerational Effects
Inheritance: White families are 5 times more likely to inherit wealth than Black families, and when they do inherit, it's about 10 times more. This disparity in intergenerational wealth transfer significantly contributes to the persistent wealth gap.
Compounding Disadvantages: Each generation starts from a position of disadvantage, making it harder to accumulate wealth over time. This cycle of inequality is reinforced by continued discrimination and structural barriers.
The racial wealth gap has actually widened in recent decades, demonstrating the long-lasting impact of historical injustices and the need for targeted policies to address these deeply entrenched inequalities. Closing this gap remains a significant challenge that requires addressing systemic racism across multiple sectors, including housing, education, employment, and financial services.
When we look at the intersectionality of race and gender, Black women are at an even bigger disadvantage and suffer more inequities. They are the most educated group in the workforce, but have the lowest representation in corporate leadership roles, as well as corporate for profit Board leadership positions.
In 2020, Black women saw a 47% increase in board seats, gaining 86 seats. However, women from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, including Black women, held only 7.8% of board seats across Fortune 500 companies in 2023.
This underrepresentation is particularly striking given the educational achievements of Black women. Several factors contribute to this disparity:
Persistent wage gap: Black women with college degrees earn less than the average White man with no college degree.
Systemic barriers: Despite educational gains, Black women face challenges in career advancement and networking opportunities.
Slow progress in diversity initiatives: While there has been an increase in board diversity, the pace of change remains gradual.
We take one step forward and three steps back. If we continue like this, we will never see true change occur in our lifetime. Our goal is to create a better place for the coming generations who are some of the most diverse yet. Remember...this work is about the people who are being constantly overlooked because of their identity. Our biases can be so deeply rooted in our unconscious minds that we are unaware of them!
FEBRUARY OBSERVANCES:
Black History Month: Black History Month is a chance for Americans to learn details of their nation’s history that, unfortunately, are far too often neglected and pushed to the wayside. As the saying goes, "Black history is American history" — and it’s a varied and rich history. A wise nation honors and learns from its past. It refuses to let the most important facts about our shared and collective memory disappear into the depths of forgotten history. What happened in the past shapes and informs where we are heading in the future, and it’s of paramount importance to set aside time for learning as much as we can about Black history every day.
Ethnic Equality Month: This is a period to recognize the similarities all people have, yet acknowledge, appreciate, and respect the differences in all of us. So no matter what race you are, or what ethnicity you belong to, everyone is equal and deserves equal rights and equal opportunities. Ethnic Equality Month is a good time to reflect and challenge ourselves, as a group and individually. It brings to light the unfortunate biases that still exist in our society, how far we’ve come in achieving equality, and what each one of us can do to contribute to something the world should be striving to achieve: social equality & justice.
Cancer Prevention Month: Cancer is said to be the world’s leading cause of death. It can be prevented by early detection and screening, and living a healthy lifestyle.
Feb 1 - National Freedom Day: This day celebrates freedom from slavery. It honors the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Feb 1 - World Hijab Day: This day is to encourage women of all religions and backgrounds to wear and experience the hijab for a day and to educate and spread awareness on why hijab is worn.
Feb 11 - International Day of Women and Girls in Science: This day allows us to honor women’s significant achievements in science and place a much-needed focus on girls entering Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers.
Feb 17 - President's Day: In 1971, Presidents’ Day moved in an effort to create more 3-day weekends for the public in the hope that this would inspire greater productivity nationwide. It was believed that at this point in the year, the restorative effects of the winter holidays have begun to fade and people need another break to regain some of that lost stamina.
Feb 20 - World Day of Social Justice: Many of the world’s population, through no fault of their own, are deprived of basic facilities, such as homes, jobs, healthcare, education, nutrition, and more. It must be the responsibility of the privileged to ensure that we can create a just world where social justice is a norm.
Feb 21 - National Caregivers' Day: The day honors individuals who selflessly provide personal care, and physical & emotional support to those who need it most.
Feb 27 - Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day: Ever since its origins in the 18th century (Age of Enlightenment), STEM fields have remained predominantly male. It’s a burgeoning issue calling for an urgent redress. One of the main ways that this is being done is through the creation of scholarships for women.
Until next month... Be well and protect your peace!
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