RECOGNIZING JULY 10, 2025, AS “BLACK WOMEN’S EQUAL PAY DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Pinkney & Rep. K. Johnson

Sens. Huxtable, Lockman, Sokola; Reps. Bush, Heffernan, Minor-Brown, Morrison, Neal, Osienski, Romer, Kamela Smith, Snyder-Hall, K. Williams, Wilson-Anton

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 92

RECOGNIZING JULY 10, 2025, AS “BLACK WOMEN’S EQUAL PAY DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, July 10

th

marks the day in the year when the median earnings of a Black woman working full-time, year-round, catch up to the median 2024 annual earnings of a non-Hispanic white man; and

WHEREAS, the date for Black Women’s Equal Pay Day symbolizes the additional amount of time Black women must work into the current year to earn what non-Hispanic white men earned in the previous year, highlighting the persistent wage gap; and

WHEREAS, on average, Black women earn 63 cents for every dollar made by white, non-Hispanic men,

resulting in a loss of nearly $1 million over a 40-year career and

substantial economic disparities that impact their financial security, well-being, and opportunities for advancement; and

WHEREAS, according to Forbes, Black mothers earn an average of 50 cents for every dollar made by non-Hispanic white men; and

WHEREAS, per the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, 64% of Black students earning bachelor’s degrees are women; and

WHEREAS, lower wages for Black women make it more difficult to pay off student debt accrued while earning post-secondary degrees; and

WHEREAS,

factors contributing to this wage gap include occupational segregation, lack of pay transparency, unpaid caregiving responsibilities, and discrimination in hiring and promotions; and

WHEREAS, these disparities not only affect individual earnings but also have broader implications for economic security, including reduced retirement savings and limited wealth accumulation; and

WHEREAS, closing the wage gap for Black women is not only a matter of economic justice but also critical for addressing systemic inequalities and advancing gender and racial equity in the workforce; and

WHEREAS, recognizing “Black Women’s Equal Pay Day” provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the intersectional challenges faced by Black women in the workplace and to advocate for systemic changes to achieve pay equity.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 153

rd

General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the General Assembly hereby recognizes July 10, 2025, as “Black Women’s Equal Pay Day” in the State of Delaware to acknowledge the ongoing wage disparities faced by Black women and to affirm our commitment to achieving pay equity for all individuals, regardless of race or gender.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all Delawareans are encouraged to join us in recognizing the contributions Black women have made in every aspect of life and to support efforts aimed at closing the wage gap, promoting economic justice, and overall acknowledging the sacrifices they have made to champion equality.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution recognizes July 10, 2025, as "Black Women's Equal Pay Day" in the State of Delaware and encourages all Delawareans to join in recognizing the contributions Black women have made in every aspect of life, and the sacrifices they have made to champion equality.

Author: Senator Pinkney