Black women serve a critical role in the American economy, contributing $3.8 billion to the GDP annually. Often the breadwinners for their families, they have the highest labor force participation rate for women and make up 21% of all women-owned businesses.
Even with these significant contributions, Black women live at the intersection of multiple barriers and experience the compounded effects of racial and gender bias. This combination results in low-wage jobs and a significant wealth gap: Black women who work full-time, year-round earn 62 cents for every one dollar white men earn working full-time, year-round.
So, where can Black women feel supported and flourish financially?
When posed that question, Dr. Lori Martin, a professor of African and African American studies and sociology at Louisiana State University, had this to say: “A livable place for Black women is safe, and for women with children, it is home to schools where all students have access to an excellent education. It would also be diverse, with a visible and thriving black community, including black businesses.”
While the socioeconomic realities of our current time touch all corners of the country, there are pockets of the U.S. where the wealth gap narrows and Black women have more opportunities. MoneyGeek analyzed data on income, the cost of crime, homeownership and poverty levels from 200 cities across the United States to rank the best — and worst — cities for Black women to live.
Read the full story at Money Geek.
