First Partner Siebel Newsom Releases Statement and Video on the Importance of Pay Equity on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day
SACRAMENTO – California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today released a statement on pay equity and Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. The First Partner also released a video with Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Boss, and PolicyLink Founder in Residence, Angela Glover Blackwell. The video highlights the critical importance of closing the wage gap, and is available here.
“Black women live at the intersection of racial and gender discrimination leaving them doubly impacted by the wage gap,” said First Partner Siebel Newsom. “Pay inequities and gaps in wealth and economic opportunity are deeply rooted in our country’s long standing history of racism and misogyny. However, through strong pay laws and the California Equal Pay Pledge, we are shifting culture towards a more inclusive and equitable economy. There is still work to do, but we are committed to closing the pay gap and creating a California where Black women and their families are able to thrive and prosper.”
“Intentional and bold action on closing the wage gap among Black women and women of color is needed across every sector and will put us on a path to truly ensuring all women, their families and communities are no longer shortchanged from economic prosperity,” said Supervisor Mitchell. “I am proud to stand with the First Partner and countless others throughout the state in the fight to end racial and gender pay discrimination.”
“Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day – a day set aside each year to shine a light on the disparity in pay for Black women in this country and the far-reaching impacts for families, communities, and our economy,” said Mayor Bass. “Economic injustice is a problem across the board, and to solve problems effectively and authentically, we have to focus on those most impacted. Together, we will work to close this gap.”
“Closing the pay gap for Black women is an essential step for economic justice,” said Angela Glover Blackwell. “When Black women and other women of color are paid equally, we’ll see the benefits cascade throughout society.”
Women in America are paid, on average, about 84 cents to every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man makes, and Black women are paid about 64 cents to every dollar. The median Black household owns nearly 90% less wealth than the median white household with Black women owning pennies on the dollar to white men. The Aspen Institute recently found that 9 out of 10 Black women feel economically insecure.
First Partner Siebel Newsom launched the California for ALL Women initiative in 2019 to center gender equity at the state level. Through the initiative she has been an outspoken champion and thought leader on pay equity, working to close the race and gender wage gaps.
In 2019, the First Partner launched the California Equal Pay Pledge under California for all Women to build upon California policies such as the Fair Pay Act and the Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act by imploring companies and municipalities to do their part by closing any existing internal wage gap.
Last week, First Partner Siebel Newsom convened and moderated a panel on pay equity at Genentech in South San Francisco. Genentech was an early signatory of the Equal Pay Pledge.
The panel included Genentech CEO Alexander Hardy, Interim Chief Diversity Officer Cari DeLoa, and representatives from other parts of the business. A video of the First Partner’s opening remarks is available here.
