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Dear John,

February is Black History Month in the United States, a time to recognize the achievements and contributions of Black Americans throughout history. As anti-rights movements gain momentum around the world and the political landscape changes, it’s more important than ever for us to support all women and girls and continue to advocate for legal equality.

This month, we invite you to choose one activity from our list of ways to celebrate Black women and girls (below) as a way to honor our past, foster hope for our future, and spread joy.
African Americans and Labor

This year, the national theme for Black History Month ([link removed]) is ‘African Americans and Labor’, an especially important and timely topic following President Trump’s Actions ([link removed]) to stop promoting workplace diversity and revoke several Executive Orders prohibiting discrimination in hiring and employment. This comes when Black women already earn $0.64 on the dollar compared to White, non-Hispanic men.

Last year, the US Department of Labor (DOL) reported ([link removed]) that while on average women earn 84% of what their male counterparts make, Black women make only 69%, a startling 15% difference. This statistic is particularly disheartening when considering that almost 80% of Black mothers are the primary breadwinners in their households ([link removed]) . In total, the DOL estimated that in 2023 Black women lost a collective $42.7 billion in earnings and determined discrimination as a key factor ([link removed]) in the gender wage gap.

Recognizing the contributions of Black Americans to labor also requires acknowledging the historical context of enslavement, which denied generations of Black workers their rights, freedoms, and wages under the law. The struggle for economic equality in the US is inseparable from this legacy, as it has been a longstanding fight among Black Americans.

>> Learn more about the gender wage gap ([link removed])

At Equality Now, we have high hopes for what the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) could mean for women’s economic equality in the United States ([link removed]) . For example, the ERA would create a clear legislative pathway to pass laws mandating equal pay for equal work, providing for paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave on an equal basis, accounting for child care in the calculation of pension benefits, and more.

>> Read about President Biden’s decision to declare the ERA the law of the land ([link removed].)

Ways to celebrate and honor Black women and girls this February:

We recognize that this is an uncertain time for many people in the United States, and that during uncertain times, people often want to find simple ways to uplift one another and foster joy.

Learn about Black women who are creating positive change, including:
* Mae Jemison, the first woman of color to go to space. Mae worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for six years before leaving to create an international science camp called The Earth We Share. She continues to inspire others, particularly young girls and women of color, to enter science and technology fields through speaking engagements. Read her autobiography “Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments From My Life” ([link removed]) to learn more.
* Christina Swarns, the Executive Director of the Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization that helps free and exonerate wrongfully convicted people and reform the criminal justice system. Christina is a lawyer who successfully argued Buck v. Davis in the United States Supreme Court and has authored a number of op-eds on the topics of race and criminal justice. Learn more about her work in this episode of C-SPAN Bookshelf ([link removed]) .
* Misty Copeland, the first Black principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. She’s used her platform to give back as an Ambassador of the Boys & Girls Club of America and through The Misty Copeland Foundation, which promotes diversity in dance, particularly ballet. Read her autobiography “Life in Motion” ([link removed]) or share her picture book “Firebird” ([link removed]) to learn more about her incredible life and work.
* Tarana Burke, an activist and the founder of The ‘me too.’ Movement. Tarana’s work helps combat sexual violence and often speaks on consent and bodily automony. She received the Sydney Peace Prize in 2019 and was named a TIME Person of the Year in 2017. To learn more about Tarana’s inspiring journey, read her autobiography “Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement” ([link removed]) .
* Renae L. Bluitt, a producer and storyteller who supports Black business women through projects like the “In Her Shoes” blog and the documentary “She Did That.”. The film, which she produced, explores Black women entrepreneurs and delves into important topics like mental health. The film’s success led to the development of a podcast by the same name. Visit the “She Did That.” ([link removed]) film website to discover how to watch the film.

Support Black creators and businesses, such as menstrual care companies The Honey Pot Company ([link removed]) and Femly ([link removed]) ; UK-based artist DorcasCreates ([link removed]) ; and stationary store Be Rooted ([link removed]) , which prioritizes representation in their designs.

If you’re local to Washington, DC, visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture ([link removed]) , specifically their exhibit titled “Forces for Change: Mary McLeod Bethune and Black Women’s Activism” ([link removed]) . This exhibit delves into Black activists and changemakers, specifically Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator who founded a college, supported voter registration, and served as an advisor to President Franklin Roosevelt.

Thank you for joining us this Black History Month in supporting women and girls. As the month continues, watch our social platforms for additional recommendations.

This email originally linked to articles, which have since been removed, on the US Department of Labor’s website.
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If you have feedback, ideas, or suggestions for future Feminist Culture Club features, please complete our survey ([link removed]) . Thank you for continuing to support our work.

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