Protect Black Women & Girls

Protecting Black women and girls is not only a call for safety, but a demand for dignity, respect, and the right to thrive. Black women and girls face unique challenges, from higher rates of violence and health disparities to systemic biases that impact their education, employment, and well-being. Ensuring their protection requires comprehensive efforts—advocating for policies that safeguard their rights, creating spaces that support mental and emotional health, and challenging harmful stereotypes that perpetuate inequities. By prioritizing the safety and empowerment of Black women and girls, we build stronger communities where everyone can experience equality, respect, and opportunity. California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute issued a brief highlighting the way in which Black Women experience social, economic and physical violence.

BLACK WOMEN HURT TOO: The Violent Ways Misogynoir Harms Black Women, Girls and Transgender Females

Misogynoir—the unique intersection of racism and sexism—contributes to the physical, economic, and social violence that Black women, girls and transgender females endure. These interconnected forms of harm are often exacerbated by institutional racism, making Black women, girls and transgender females in California particularly vulnerable to multiple, intersecting forms of violence.

PHYSICAL VIOLENCE

Black women face disproportionate levels of physical violence that threaten their safety and well-being, both historically and today.

Homicide: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 33% increase in homicide rates for Black women and girls in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, Black women are six times more likely to be killed than white women.
Domestic Violence: Over 40% of Black women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime—higher than the national average of 30.2% for white women. In California, 42.5% of Black women report experiencing intimate partner violence compared to 39.3% of white women and 30.2% of Hispanic women (Blue Shield Report on Domestic Violence in Black Communities).
Murder Rates in Los Angeles: Despite making up just 4.3% of the population, Black women account for 33% of female murder victims in Los Angeles (LA Civil Rights Report, 2022). In the 77th Division police district, Black women represent 55% of female rape victims.
Police Violence: Nearly 200 people in California die annually during police encounters, with Black people disproportionately represented. Black women experience a heightened risk of over-policing, brutality, and medical neglect while in custody. Black girls aged 15-19 are four times more likely than white girls to require emergency hospitalization after encounters with law enforcement (University of California, Berkeley).
Sex Trafficking: In Los Angeles, 92% of the girls in the juvenile justice system identified as victims of sex trafficking are Black.
Violence Against Black Trans Women: Black Trans women and femmes face disproportionately high rates of violence, with 86% of fatal violence against Trans individuals in the U.S. targeting Black Trans women (2022 Report). Despite these alarming figures, violence against Black Trans women is frequently underreported or misclassified.

ECONOMIC VIOLENCE

Economic violence perpetuates inequality and severely limits Black women’s financial freedom and security.

Wage Gap: Black women earn just 66.5 cents for every dollar earned by white men (2024 Wage Gap Report). This disparity persists even when controlling education and experience.
Underrepresentation in Leadership: Despite Black women’s strong participation in the workforce, they remain significantly underrepresented in high-earning industries and leadership roles. In 2024, promotion rates for Black women regressed to a four-year low, and it may take 40 years for Black women to reach leadership parity with white men.
Multiple Jobs: 2 out of 5 Black women in California report being one paycheck away from financial instability, and 37% work two or more jobs. Of those with multiple jobs, 67% say it is essential to meeting their financial obligations (California Black Women Voter Poll).
Burnout: Black women report high levels of workplace burnout due to microaggressions, lack of support, and disproportionate caregiving responsibilities. These challenges contribute to the "broken rung" in career advancement.

SOCIAL VIOLENCE

Social violence, exacerbated by environmental and technological harm, further marginalizes Black women and girls.

Environmental Racism: Black women disproportionately live in areas with hazardous waste sites, high pollution, and food deserts. In West Oakland, Black women have a life expectancy 15 years shorter than white women living in Oakland Hills.
Maternal Health: Black women in California are three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related causes. Additionally, Black mothers report higher rates of prenatal and postpartum depression.
Online Harassment: Black women, particularly those in social justice work, are frequent targets of online abuse. Black women are 84% more likely than white women to be mentioned in abusive tweets. Post-pandemic, this abuse increased by 38%. With the rise of doxing, online harassment often escalates into real-life stalking (NYU Report on Technological Violence).

Addressing the multi-layered violence against Black women, girls and transgender females requires systemic transformation. The California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute is dedicated to dismantling these systems through policy reform, public advocacy, and financial investment. Only by confronting misogynoir at its roots can we create a future where Black women and girls are safe, empowered, and valued.