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Conversations about equal pay have never been just about a paycheck for Black women – they’ve always been about economic survival, opportunity and the ability to build generational wealth. But following Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which shines a spotlight on persistent wage disparities, advocates say President Donald Trump’s second administration is creating new barriers that threaten years of progress.
The Root spoke with Jocelyn Frye, the president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, who said that the president’s economic agenda comes at a cost to Black women.
“His Administration is more interested in preserving the power of his allies than ensuring people are paid fairly or building an economy that works for everyone, and Black women are paying the price every day,” she said.
We previously told you about sweeping changes across the labor market, including cuts affecting the federal workforce – where Black women have historically found stable employment with stronger wages and benefits – to rollbacks of anti-discrimination protections. Frye says these factors have contributed to employment instability for Black women.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black women’s unemployment fell from January to June 2026. But it remains higher than the 5.4% recorded in January 2025.
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Frye said an unstable job market and references to Black women in certain positions as “DEI hires” have made it more difficult for Black women to find their footing in the job market.
“The frequent fluctuations in unemployment, combined with the Administration’s hostile narrative about the qualifications of Black women and other workers of color and women, have created a climate that undermines equal opportunity for all,” she said.
The latest available wage data paints a troubling picture. In 2024, Black women working full-time, year-round earned a median salary of $51,660–just 65 cents for every dollar earned by a non-Hispanic white man, representing an annual wage gap of $28,340, Frye told us. When including part-time and seasonal workers, Black women earned only 63 cents on the dollar.
Some observers point to periods when the wage gap narrowed, but Frye warned against interpreting those as lasting progress.
Throughout history, Black women have remained consistently undervalued in the labor market– despite being one of the most educated and qualified groups in America. Temporary improvements have often reflected broader economic disruptions rather than meaningful wage gains. Frye argued that real progress requires intentional policymaking that addresses job market segregation, expands paid family leave and strengthens caregiving supports that allow women to remain in the workforce without sacrificing long-term earnings.
As debates over diversity initiatives and federal data collection continue, Frye believes employers have an increasingly important role to play.
She encouraged companies to continue collecting workforce demographic data, conduct regular pay equity reviews, strengthen anti-discrimination policies and advocate for preserving tools like the EEOC’s EEO-1 reporting system. Without reliable data, she warns, identifying disparities becomes significantly more difficult.
For Black women navigating today’s economic uncertainty, Frye said it’s not enough to hope the government steps in to support and stressed the importance of collective action.
“Unions can help [Black women] advocate for better pay and working conditions, community groups can connect them with fellow workers and resources for when workplace and national policy fall short, and transparency with colleagues regardless of race can help uncover disparities in pay and benefits,” she told us. “It is also important to avoid playing their game and feeding their narrative about pitting groups against each other; when we value and embrace diversity, we create spaces where everyone can participate, collaborate, and be part of a team.”
As the U.S. Census prepares to release 2025 earnings data later this fall, advocates will be watching closely to determine whether the economic outlook for Black women has improved–or whether the wage gap has widened even further under the current policy landscape.
