Meeting the Moment: Data, Dignity, and the Unseen Burden on Black Women

I recently transitioned from the world of federal executive leadership and strategic consulting into a role that feels deeply personal: leading research and programs at the CA Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CABWCEI). This move was sparked by a simple, albeit heavy, realization. Having spent years in the rooms where national policy is shaped, I’ve seen firsthand how high-level decisions often fail to reach the very people they are meant to protect.

My journey has taught me that true systemic change isn't found in a stack of paperwork; it’s built through authentic relationships and a fierce commitment to human dignity. Black women have always been the backbone of our economy and our communities, yet the data remains clear: we are still the first to feel the sting of economic shifts and the last to see the safety nets we deserve. This is not just a professional observation; it is a matter of life and death—but it is also a call to reclaim our future.

A Public Health Crisis: The Science of "Weathering"

A landmark study published in JAMA Network Open (January 2026) and recently highlighted by the Washington Post has confirmed what our community has long known: discrimination is a public health crisis that measurably shortens lives. For Black women, this is a multi-layered reality where racism and sexism intersect, creating unique challenges in every facet of life—from the workplace to the doctor's office. This isn't just "stress"; it is a physiological breakdown known as "weathering." This process accelerates cellular aging and compromises cardiovascular health. According to our 2025 Black Women in California Report, 80% of Black women identify the cost of living and racial discrimination as their primary stressors. These aren't merely individual acts of prejudice; they are deeply entrenched systemic issues that chip away at our longevity.

Despite the weight of these statistics, there is a profound movement of joy and reclamation taking root. We are seeing a generation of Black women who are no longer asking for a seat at the table, but are building their own tables anchored in wellness and mutual support. This shift from surviving to thriving is where our true power lies—in the belief that our well-being is a radical and achievable act of justice.

The Economic Strain of 2026

As we navigate this year, the economic weight on Black women has reached a critical tipping point. Projections for 2026 indicate a disproportionate risk of job displacement, following a devastating 2025 where over 455,000 women exited the U.S. workforce in the first eight months alone. While layoffs accounted for 42% of these departures, a staggering 58% of women "decided" to leave—a move driven not by a lack of ambition, but by structural failures.

New national survey data from Catalyst reveals that the primary catalyst for this exodus is a profound lack of workplace support for caregiving responsibilities. Inadequate flexibility and wages that cannot keep pace with the high cost of childcare have made participation untenable for many. For Black women, who are the primary breadwinners in over 80% of their households, these pressures are magnified. In California, single Black mothers without subsidies often spend nearly 70% of their income on childcare, forcing them into impossible choices between their careers and their families. This reality underscores that the current crisis is not a personal failure of commitment, but a failure of work structures to account for the essential caregiving and economic pressures Black women carry.

The data from CABWCEI’s ongoing  research paints a sobering picture of the hurdles we face in California:

• The Wage Gap: Black women in California earn just 60 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. For single mothers, that drops to 56 cents.

• The Cost of Survival: On average, Black women spend 50% of their income on housing and 30% on childcare. Without subsidies, a single mother can spend up to 67% of her earnings just to ensure her children are cared for while she works.

• The Unemployment Spike: By the end of 2025, unemployment for Black women in California jumped to 8.9%—a rate nearly triple that of other demographics.

While these systemic issues chip away at our longevity, there is profound hope in our growing awareness. We are no longer suffering in silence; we are naming the "unseen burden" and documenting it through rigorous research to catalyze the statewide policy changes we deserve.

Research also indicates that too often we praise the "resilience" of Black women, but resilience should not be a prerequisite for survival. The mental and physical toll of navigating these systems is immense and impact how we enter spaces:

• The "Black Superwoman" Syndrome: The internal and external pressure to carry every burden without asking for help, which leads to total burnout.

• Workplace Marginalization: Our 2025 survey revealed that 57% of Black women in California have experienced racism or discrimination at work. Nearly half (49%) report being passed over for opportunities or marginalized.

• The Toll of Vigilance: The daily labor of code-switching and defending against stereotypes—like the "angry Black woman" trope reported by 38% of those surveyed—creates "invisible wounds" that we carry home, affecting our overall well-being.

Moving Forward: From Acknowledgment to Action

The data tells us where we have been, but it does not dictate where we are going. There is immense hope in the way we are rewriting the rules of engagement, prioritizing our rest as much as our ambition. By centering our own healing, we aren't just lightening the burden for ourselves; we are clearing a path for the women coming behind us to lead with their full, unburdened brilliance.

At CABWCEI, we are documenting these burdens to catalyze statewide policy change and community-engaged programming. To ensure Black women don't just survive but thrive in 2026 and beyond, we are prioritizing three pillars:

1. Economic Pathways to Power: Investing in high-growth sectors like Tech, AI, and the Public Sector to move Black women from "surviving" to "wealth-building."

2. Wraparound Support: Providing "situational remediation"—tangible help for housing security, childcare, and legal support.

3. Trauma-Informed Models: Our SheWorks program, launching this month in Los Angeles County, integrates workforce training with stipends for childcare and transportation. We recognize that you cannot build a career without first securing your foundation.

The legendary strength of Black women is a gift to this country, but it is time the country reciprocated by lightening the load. By investing in the stability and dignity of Black women, we don’t just improve individual lives—we transform entire communities.