Celebrity women unite for ‘Black Women’s Equal Pay Day’

Black women have to work 19 months to make what white men make in 12.

Jul 31, 2017

July 31st is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day.

This year, Equal Pay Day was on April 4 to mark the extra three months and a few days that women in general have to work in order to make as much as men do in a year, with the pay gap at around 80 cents to the dollar. But the gap is worse when you take race into account, with Black women only making 67 cents to every dollar.

Thus, Black women have to work 19 months to make what white men make in 12.

To mark the day, celebrities and other notable women have all come together to stand for equal pay for all women, especially those who are disadvantages twice over.

While many celebrities, such as Tracee Ellis Ross, took to Twitter to explain the significance of the date, others used the platform to specifically call for change.

“We need to do more to address the economic injustice that exists at the intersection of gender & race. #BlackWomensEqualPay,” wrote Senator Kamala Harris.

Others, like Remy Ma, expressed messages of consolidation and support: “Black women are the cornerstone of our communities, they are phenomenal & they deserve equal pay.”

Check out some of the best of #BlackWomensEqualPay from Twitter below.

July 31 is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. Black women are the cornerstone of our communities, they are phenomenal, and they deserve equal pay. pic.twitter.com/XOHyIdbYPc

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 31, 2017

July 31 is #BlackWomensEqualPay Day: it represents the # of days into 2017 a black woman must work 2 earn same pay a white man made in 2016. pic.twitter.com/9yZnjsOR7o

— Tracee Ellis Ross (@TraceeEllisRoss) July 31, 2017

63 cents on the dollar — that’s how much Black women are paid on average compared to white, non-Hispanic men. #BlackWomensEqualPay

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 31, 2017

We need to do more to address the economic injustice that exists at the intersection of gender & race. #BlackWomensEqualPay

— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) July 31, 2017

My face knowing that the avg. American man could vacation for 6 mo & earn the same as the avg. BW who works all year #BlackWomensEqualPay pic.twitter.com/KI6g0nNqdL

— Yvette D. Clarke (@RepYvetteClarke) July 30, 2017

July 31 is #BlackWomensEqualPay Day. Black women are the cornerstone of our communities, they are phenomenal & they deserve equal pay. pic.twitter.com/qVqJq2ufKl

— Remy Ma (@RealRemyMa) July 31, 2017

63¢ on the ?? Charley would NEVER, nor should we. 7/31 is #BlackWomensEqualPay Day. Tweet storm in 30 min for info & action! #phenomenal??✊? pic.twitter.com/yXYsdVY0Cv

— Dawn-Lyen Gardner (@dawnlyen) July 31, 2017