From classrooms and businesses to community movements, Black women are vital to California's progress. However, as the 2025 State of Black Women in California Report reveals, they continue to face significant barriers that limit opportunities and threaten their well-being. Released by the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, this year's report offers the most comprehensive analysis to date of the challenges and triumphs of Black women across the state. The findings confirm a difficult truth: brilliance and resilience alone are not enough to overcome deeply entrenched systemic inequities. Despite making up just 6.6% of California’s female population, the report shows that Black women are disproportionately affected by poverty, housing instability, and health disparities.
Black Women in California 2025 State of
AUTHORS: KELLIE TODD GRIFFIN & DR. ASTRID WILLIAMS
Table of CONTENTS
Executive Summary Overview of Demographic Data for Black Women in California
07 10
Education & Economic Mobility Health Indicators and Disparities Case Studies on Black Women’s Health • Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence in Northern California • Breast Cancer Disparities • Cardiovascular Health Challenges
10 12 12
14 14 15 15 16 16 18 18 19
Housing, Safety, and Environmental Justice Violence & Safety Underfunding of Black Women-Led Organizations Political Power and Civic Engagement Future Research Needs Policy Change and Practice Transformation Recommendations Conclusion Report Data Sources
image: eye-for-ebony
From the Desk of
Kellie Todd Griffin President & CEO, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute
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Dear Supporters, Advocates, and Changemakers, The truth has never been clearer—and the time to act has never been more urgent. Black Women in California are navigating systems that were never built with us in mind. Our brilliance is evident in our communities, our leadership, our resilience—but so too are the structural barriers that threaten our ability to thrive. The 2025 State of Black Women in California Report lays bare the depth of these inequities. Despite being just 6.6% of the state’s female population, we are overrepresented in poverty, chronic health conditions, housing instability, and workplace discrimination. We are earning less—just $0.60 on the dollar compared to white men. We are paying more—spending nearly 70% of our income on childcare if we are a single mother without subsidies. Our unemployment rate is 6.4%, higher than White workers (4.9%) and Latino workers (6.2%). We are leading more—but being promoted less. And yet, we continue to survive. This report is not just data—it is a mirror of our lived experience and a map for collective action. It confirms what we’ve always known: Black Women carry more than our share. But we are not powerless, we are essential. That’s why the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute was created. Since launching in 2023, we’ve moved beyond rhetoric to measurable impact: 💼 Trained 1,460 Black Women in leadership, economic mobility, and advocacy to shape systems that once excluded us. 🏽 Trained 596 middle and high school girls in financial literacy and leadership development—investing early in the next generation. 📊 Conducted 6 research reports capturing the lived experiences of Black Women in California—grounding our advocacy in truth and data.
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🎒 Distributed over 2,500 backpacks to ensure Black girls show up to school prepared and empowered. 💰 Granted over $100,000 to organizations statewide committed to the advancement of Black Women and Girls. 👑 Honored 214 Black Women Trailblazers , lifting up those who lead with power, purpose, and vision. 🌟 Produced 32 events celebrating our beauty , amplifying our stories, and affirming our worth. Engaged over 25,000 Black females across California— activating voices, building movements, and cultivating collective power. These are not just numbers. They represent a growing movement rooted in data, fueled by community, and led by Black Women.
But we cannot do this alone.
This report underscores the need for sustained targeted investment in the leadership, health, and economic wellbeing of Black Women and Girls. It calls on philanthropy, government, and the private sector go beyond performative allyship and embrace bold, equity- centered action. Because when Black Women rise, we bring families, communities, and the entire state with us.
We are not a problem to be fixed—we are a promise to be fulfilled.
As you read this report, I urge you to move from acknowledgment to action. Fund this work. Share these findings. Center Black Women in your strategies, your budgets, and your priorities.
Let this moment be a turning point. Not because we asked for charity—but because we’ve always deserved equity.
Together, we can ensure that the future of California is one where Black Women don’t just survive—we soar.
In power and purpose,
Kellie Todd Griffin President & CEO California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Black Women in California have always been a force—raising families, building movements, holding up communities, and breaking barriers with unmatched grace and grit. But while we are often celebrated for our strength, we are far too rarely supported with the resources, respect, and recognition we deserve. This report lays bare the truth: Black Women and girls in California are navigating systems that were never designed with us in mind—and too often, they work against us. Despite making up just 6.6% of the state’s female population, Black Women are overrepresented in every measure of struggle: poverty, wage inequality, housing insecurity, chronic health issues, and underrepresentation in leadership. We are earning less—just 60 cents to the dollar compared to white men. We are overburdened— spending more than half our income on housing and nearly 70% on childcare. We are underpromoted—receiving fewer leadership opportunities despite equal ambition and capability. And yet, we continue to lead, to rise, to build power from the margins.
This report doesn’t just illuminate the data—it tells the story of our brilliance, our resilience, and our undeniable impact. From record-breaking voter participation to surging entrepreneurship, from the Capitol to corporate boardrooms, Black Women in California are charting new paths forward. But we should not have to climb mountains just to reach what others are handed. We deserve systems that see us, policies that center us, and investments that elevate us. The numbers here are not just statistics, they are a mirror reflecting what we’ve endured and a map pointing to what must change. To truly build an equitable California, we must dismantle the structural barriers that limit Black Women and invest in the possibilities we represent. This is our moment to move from acknowledgment to action. Because when Black Women rise, we bring families, communities, and this entire state with us.
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Black Women
% of county’s women
Black Women
% of county’s women
County
County
Alameda
Orange
87,973
10.76%
34,498
2.18%
Alpine
Placer
3
0.59%
4,508
2.09%
Amador
Plumas
211
1.11%
70
0.73%
Butte
Riverside
1,969
1.89%
93,401
7.52%
Calaveras
Sacramento
226
0.97%
86,762
10.79%
Colusa
San Benito
145
1.35%
589
1.74%
Contra Costa
San Bernardino
56,689
9.65%
105,971
9.66%
Del Norte El Dorado
San Diego
113
0.90% 0.99% 5.93% 1.33% 1.29%
83,011
5.13%
San Francisco
950
21,255
5.40%
Fresno
San Joaquin
30,065
33,320
8.33%
Glenn
San Luis Obispo
183
1,696 9,182 4,513
1.21%
Humboldt
San Mateo
871
2.52%
Imperial
Santa Barbara
1,717
1.97%
2.05%
Inyo
Santa Clara
92
1.01%
25,653
2.78%
Kern
Santa Cruz
27,290
6.06%
1,795
1.37%
Kings
Shasta
3,418
5.00%
1,036
1.13%
Lake
Sierra
656
1.93%
3
0.19%
Lassen
Siskiyou
215
1.86%
271
1.26%
Los Angeles
Solano
454,585
9.31%
31,863
14.16%
Madera
Sonoma
4,246
5.10% 2.10%
4,907
2.00% 3.64% 2.53%
Marin
Stanislaus
2,714
10,054
Mariposa
Sutter
116
1.38%
1,238
Mendocino
Tehama
374
0.83% 3.88%
301
0.93%
Merced
Trinity Tulare
5,592
38
0.50%
Modoc
39 35
0.91%
5,523
2.31%
Mono
Tuolumne
0.57% 2.68% 2.28%
225
0.86%
Monterey
Ventura
5,690
9,313
2.23%
Napa
Yolo
1,510
3,788
3.34% 5.02%
Nevada
Yuba
317
0.61%
2,119
Statewide total (Black women, “alone”): 1,264,907, representing 6.48% of California’s female population in 2023. The largest county totals are Los Angeles (454,585), San Bernardino (105,971), Riverside (93,401), Sacramento (86,762), and Alameda (87,973). Beautify Data Sources (2023 year): BeautifyData extraction of Census PEP V2023 (interactive tables for Black women, alone and non-Hispanic Black women, alone ). Beautify Data+1 Census Bureau, County Population by Characteristics: 2020–2024 (Vintage 2024 landing page; 2023 is the latest year in this vintage). Census.gov Census PEP file layout (shows variable definitions for Black female, alone/alone-or-in-combination, and non-Hispanic variants). Census Bureau
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image: marleena-garris
II. Overview of Demographic Data for Black Women and Girls in California • Population: Over 1.2 million Black Women and girls live in California, making up 6.6% of the state’s female population. Black Women are overrepresented in many adverse indicators despite representing a small share of the state population (California Budget and Policy Center, 2022). • Youth Population: Black Girls (under 18) make up 1 in 14 girls in California yet face some of the highest poverty rates and lowest academic success rates (CBPC). • Elderly Black Women: Black Women over age 65 are disproportionately likely to live alone and face challenges accessing healthcare, economic security, and caregiving (MSMU State of Women Report, 2023). III. Education & Economic Mobility Educational Disparities • High School Graduation: Approximately 91% of Black Women aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher. • College Degrees: Only 25% of Black Women in California hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 47% of white women (MSMU, 2023). • Student Debt: Black Women are the most likely group to incur student loan debt and the least likely to repay it, due to wage gaps and job market discrimination.
Economic Indicators: • Poverty: Nearly 25% of Black Women and girls live below the federal poverty line—double the rate for white women in California (CBPC, 2022). • Housing Stability: Black Women face the highest eviction rates and are more than twice as likely as white women to be unhoused (CABWCEI, 2024). • Public Sector Employment: Approximately 40% of employed Black Women in California work in the public sector—often in underpaid or precarious positions (CABWCEI, 2024). Wage Gap: How Far Behind Black Women Lag • In 2022, Black Women statewide earned approximately $54,000, and Black single mothers about $50,000, compared to nearly $90,000 for white men—meaning every $1 earned by a white man corresponds to just $0.60 for Black Women and $0.56 for single Black moms (CBPC/CABWCEI, 2025). • If progress continues at the current pace, the Black Women’s wage gap in California won’t close until 2121—nearly 100 years from now (CBPC/CABWCEI, 2025). • Black Women are disproportionately roles. While they comprise nearly 30% of home health care workers, they constitute only about 6% of the overall labor force (CBPC, 2025). • Promotion inequities persist: In 2023, only 54 Black Women were promoted per 100 men—The lowest promotion rate between all represented in low-wage, low-mobility sectors, particularly in caregiving and health support
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gender-race groups (CBPC, 2025). • The unemployment rate among Black workers—and presumably Black women—in California stands at approximately 6.4%, the highest among racial groups as well as higher than the national average (BLS, 2025). Safety Net Support • The report Equity on the Line: The Dangerous Cost of Cutting Support for Black Women warns that proposed cuts to MediCal, CalFresh/SNAP, CalWORKs, and other programs would disproportionately harm Black Women and their families (CBPC, 2025). • Over 1 in 3 Black Women and children rely on Medi-Cal. These programs are not optional; they are critical for Black Women’s health, nutrition, economic stability, and to counteract historic inequities. • The U.S. Department of Labor reports that in 2023, Black Women across the entire United States lost an estimated $42.7 billion in wages compared to white men, due solely to pay disparities. • Single moms spend 67% of their income on childcare without subsidy. • More than 80% of Black households are led by women who are breadwinners, the highest of all female groups in the state. • Over 40% of Black Women say racism and discrimination limit their earning potential. • More than 2 in 5 Black Women face challenges covering basic expenses, and nearly the same number work more than one job. Workforce & Leadership Gaps • For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 58 Black Women are promoted, even though they ask at the same rate. • Black Women receive the least support from managers and are least likely to have sponsors advocating for them. • 54% of Black Women say they are “Onlys”—
often the only Black Woman in the room. This isolation compounds bias and pressure. • Despite barriers, Black Women are highly ambitious: they are just as likely as white men to want top executive roles and 50% more likely to be motivated by a desire to serve as role models. Workforce & Leadership Representation • Underemployment: Black Women are overrepresented in low-wage work and underrepresented in STEM, finance, and executive roles (CABWCEI, 2024). • Leadership Gaps: Despite making up nearly 7% of California’s female population, Black Women hold less than 3% of executive leadership roles in nonprofits, corporate boards, and elected offices (CABWCEI Leadership Tracker, 2024). • Entrepreneurship: Black Women are among the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs, yet face the largest funding gaps, with only 0.34% of venture capital investment nationally (Project Diane, 2023). • Employment Sectors: Black Women are overrepresented in certain employment sectors that offer limited opportunities for upward mobility. This economic vulnerability further contributes to poorer health outcomes and reduced access to preventative care. • Impacts: These disparities force many Black Women and single mothers to hold multiple jobs just to pay for essentials like food, rent, and childcare—highlighting the compounding effect of systemic racism and childcare burdens.
IV. Health Indicators and Disparities
V. Case Studies on Black Women’s
Health indicators are essential to understanding the lived of Black Women in California. Multiple studies have highlighted significant disparities in disease prevalence, mortality, and overall access to health care. Mental & Physical Health: • Multiple Sclerosis: Non-Hispanic Black Women have the highest age-adjusted prevalence of MS in Northern California: 677 per 100,000 (Romanelli et al., 2020). • Breast Cancer: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for African American women. Despite lower incidence, mortality among Black Women is 41% higher than white women due to delayed diagnosis and poorer access to care (American Cancer Society, 2024). • Cardiovascular Health: Black Women have elevated rates of hypertension, stroke, and diabetes. Social stressors (racism, poverty, caregiving burdens) are key contributors (AHA, 2022; MSMU, 2023).
CASE STUDY: Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence in Northern California A retrospective analysis conducted from 2010 to 2016 in Northern California has provided valuable insight into the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) across different racial and eth nic groups. The study by Romanelli et al. focused on a multi-ethnic population served by Sutter Health across 20 counties and identified striking disparities in MS prevalence among non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB), non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), Hispanics, and nonHispanic Asians. Key Findings: • The overall direct-standardized prevalence of MS across the studied counties was 288.0 cases per 100,000 population. • Age-adjusted prevalence was notably highest among non-Hispanic Black Women, recorded at 677.0 cases per 100,000 population 4. This rate was substantially higher compared to non-Hispanic White women and other racial/ ethnic groups, indicating that Black Women in Northern California are disproportionately affected by MS. • The study also noted differences in the types of MS phenotypes, with more progressive forms (primary-progressive and progressive- relapsing) being observed among minority groups, including Black Women. This evidence highlights a significant health concern among Black Women in Northern California, suggesting that targeted epidemiological surveillance and healthcare interventions are urgently required to address the elevated risk. CASE STUDY: Breast Cancer Disparities Breast cancer is another major public health concern where racial disparities have been
• Black Women in California have a 41% obesity rate.
• Black Women’s STI and HIV rates 5x higher than white women in the golden state.
• Reproductive and Maternal Health:
• Maternal Mortality: Black Women are 4 to 6 times more likely to die from pregnancy- related causes than white women in California (CDPH, 2022). • Teen Births: Rates among Black Girls have declined but remain higher than the state average due to structural inequities in education, health, and economic support (MSMU, 2023).
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CASE STUDY: Cardiovascular Health Challenges Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and African Americans have historically experienced poorer cardiovascular outcomes than non-Hispanic whites. The “Cardiovascular Health in African Americans” statement sheds light on several key issues that also affect Black Women in California. Despite advances in the identification of risk factors and the widespread availability of evidence-based treatment strategies, racial disparities in CVD-related morbidity and mortality persist. Black Americans, including Black Women, suffer significantly higher rates of adverse cardiovascular events. • Socioeconomic factors are a key contributor: Approximately 26% of African Americans live in poverty compared with 13% of non-Hispanic whites. This economic disparity adversely affects access to quality preventive care and timely medical intervention. Significant Findings: • Chronic Diseases and Stress The literature also suggests that psychological stress, which may be compounded by experiences of racial discrimination, directly influences cardiovascular risk factors. The cumulative effect of these risk factors contributes to a markedly higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions known to exacerbate CVD outcomes. Health Insurance • Despite 80% having some form of health insurance, Black Women experience:
consistently observed. Although the “Affluence and Breast Cancer” study primarily focused on associations between income, breast cancer incidence, and survival among White women, several key findings pertaining to Black Women emerged from the research. Key Points: • Despite a lower incidence of breast cancer in Black Women compared to their White counterparts, breast cancer mortality is substantially higher among Black Women 3. National data indicate a 41% higher mortality rate for Black Women even when their incidence rate is 4% lower than that observed in White women. • These disparities in outcomes have been attributed, in part, to differences in access to quality healthcare, delayed diagnosis, and various socioeconomic factors that may hinder optimal treatment opportunities. • Although the study provides an overview of breast cancer disparities across the United States, the patterns observed are relevant to California where similar trends have been documented in regional analyses. These disparities call for a focused re-evaluation of screening practices, timely diagnoses, and tailored treatment approaches that specifically address the unique challenges faced by Black Women in California.
• Higher rates of chronic illness (diabetes, heart disease)
• 1 in 3 delay care due to cost.
Violence Against Black Women and Girls
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VI. Housing and Environmental Justice Evictions, Displacement and Homelessness
Eviction Rates: In LA County, Black Women are evicted at nearly double the rate of any other group (UCLA Luskin, 2022).
Homelessness: Black Women make up 30% of all unhoused women in California but are only 6% of the total population of women (California Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2023).
Black Women in California spend approximately 50% of income on housing and more than 20% on childcare. Single Black Mothers spend
nearly 70% of their income on childcare (CBPC, CABWCEI, 2025)
Environmental Exposure Black communities are more likely to live in areas with high pollution and poor air quality—affecting asthma and birth outcomes (CalEPA, 2023).
VII. Violence & Safety
In our recent report, Invisible Labor and Visible Struggles, conducted by EVITARUS, we looked at the most pressing issues impacting Black Women in CA in the workplace - showing physical identity has an impact. Some highlights from the report shared, Black Women workers expressed their facial features and the way that they dressed was of concern. Also shared that they faced discrimination from female supervisors and coworkers for unwanted toxic male attention. In this qualitative report, a responder shared, “as a dark skin woman, I noticed women who are lighter are given passes and darker women are treated harsher in similar situations.”
occurs most among Black Women in California at work and when they’re shopping. When asked about the last 12 months, have they experienced racism and/or discrimination in any of the following places: • 56% respondents shared they had experienced discrimination at work; 55% while shopping. • Mothers with children under 18 and women between the ages of 34-44 reported higher rates of discrimination across all characteristics. These characteristics ranged from: race or ethnicity, skin tone, the way they styled their hair, weight or body type, sexual orientation, and level of education.
The report results revealed that discrimination
• Mothers with children under 18 and women
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between the ages of 34-44 reported higher rates of discrimination across all characteristics.
VII. Underfunding of Black Women-Led Organizations The Ms. Foundation’s Pocket Change report found that while all women-led focused organizations face significant funding barriers, Black women-led organizations encounter distinct challenges as well. • Only 0.5% of foundation dollars in 2017 went to organizations by and for women and girls of color—just $5.48 per person per year. • The median grant size to Black Women-led organizations is just $15,000, less than half the overall median foundation grant size of $35,000. • 72.3% of Black Women-led orgs provide services, yet only 17.4% of foundations fund service delivery. • Foundations rarely name Black Women in mission statements or proposals, leaving them excluded from open funding opportunities. IX. Political Power and Civic Engagement Black Women vote at higher rates than any other race/gender group in recent elections, and since 2018 have secured more political power: • 3 Black women currently serve in Congress from California. • The number in the State Legislature has grown from 3 to 9, with 3 in the Senate; statewide office representation increased from 0 to 2. • Since 2018, local leadership rose from just over 100 to 243 Black women, including 6 County Supervisors and 7 city Mayors.
• Nearly 70% of those surveyed had experience with microaggressions in the workplace.
Beauty standards have a violent impact on Black Women even when they are on the clock. Surveyed Black Women in California experienced some workplace discrimination based on their physical attributes, including their complexion, body, and hair. This form of discrimination, rooted in harmful stereotypes, allows space for microaggressions and exclusionary behaviors to happen in the workplace toward Black Women in California. In addition, Black Women and Girls face violence at dramatically higher rates than their counterparts. • Black Women have higher hospitalization due to assault 4x higher than white women. In addition, Black Women and Girls are also disproportionately represented among trafficking victims and in the criminal justice system, making up: • 32% of incarcerated women, though just 6% of the population.
• 33% of Black Girls are in juvenile justice, though they are only 14% of the youth population.
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X. Future Research Needs
XII. Policy Recommendations The persistent disparities in health and socioeconomic status among Black Women in California have significant implications for public policy. Drawing on the evidence presented in this analysis, several policy recommendations can be made:
Future Research Needs
• In order to develop a truly updated and comprehensive demographic analysis of Black Women in California, future research should:
Health Equity
•
Integrate Official Census Data: Researchers should access the latest ACS data or state- level demographic reports to obtain current information on population size, age distribution, educational attainment, and household income.
• Expand Black maternal health initiatives (e.g., doulas, midwives, implicit bias training).
• Fund culturally
responsive mental health and wellness centers for Black Women and Girls.
• Prioritize access to preventive care and chronic disease management.
• Conduct Longitudinal Studies: To capture trends over time, longitudinal studies that track both health outcomes and demographic changes among Black Women are essential.
Economic Justice
• Increase state investment in
Black Women-led organizations and businesses.
• Examine Intersectional Factors: Future investigations should analyze how race, gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic location interact to influence economic, social and health outcomes as well as overall well-being.
• Raise wages in public sector and care economy jobs where Black Women are overrepresented.
• Expand access to affordable housing and legal protection from eviction.
Educational Equity
• Support tuition-free pathways and student debt relief for Black Women who parents did not attend or complete a college degree.
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• Expand STEM and leadership pipeline programs in high schools and HBCU partnerships.
• Raise wages and support unionization in caregiving sectors.
• Fund incubator programs that address the digital divide within the Black community.
• Expand childcare subsidies: currently, a Black single mother with an infant and a school-age child spends, on average, 67% of her income on childcare if state-subsidized care isn’t available.
Civic and Leadership Representation
• Fund training and mentorship for Black Women running for office or professional leadership. • Require demographic reporting for government agencies and nonprofits receiving state funds.
Protect Vital Support Systems
• Maintain or expand Medi-Cal, CalFresh/SNAP, CalWORKs and mental health services. With over a third of Black families dependent on these, cuts would severely undermine survival and recovery.
• Research & Accountability
• Create a
permanent Black Women’s Equity Data Dashboard (modeled on the CA Black Women’s Think Tank). longitudinal studies disaggregated by race, gender, age, and region to track outcomes.
• Frame these protections in anti- racist policy
design— ensuring services reach those historically excluded.
• Fund
Leverage the Women’s
WellBeing Index for Equity-Based Budgeting
• Prioritize
funding to counties where WWBI shows Black Women underperforming on key indicators. • Establish regular WWBI-based audits for state programs to ensure improvements in health, safety, economic security, and political inclusion.
Target Wage Equity Through Legislation & Workplace Policy
• Expand pay-transparency and equity laws (e.g., the California Fair Pay Act) to include enforced reporting by race, gender, and job role to close the nearly 40% wage gap. • Strengthen promotions support: implement sponsorship and mentorship programs to raise the promotion rate of Black Women beyond the current rate of 54 per 100 men.
Close the Wage Gap:
• Mandate disaggregated pay transparency by race and gender.
Invest in Care Economy & Childcare Infrastructure
• Penalize companies that fail to meet equity targets.
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Invest in Black Women-Led Organizations:
XII. Conclusion
• Increase unrestricted, multi-year funding to groups by/for Black Women.
Black Women in California have never asked for pity—we’ve demanded possibility. We’ve built movements from scarcity, raised generations on faith and focus, and transformed pain into purpose. But let’s be clear: resilience should not be the requirement for survival. data—it’s a reflection of lived experience and a call to disrupt the status quo. It confirms what we’ve long felt in our bones: that Black Women carry This report is more than a compilation of
• Require funders to name Black Women explicitly in grant criteria.
Support Service Delivery & Intersectional Strategies:
• Fund wrap-around services alongside advocacy (e.g., childcare, housing assistance)
• Embrace multi-issue, multi-strategy models.
Advance Black Women’s Leadership: • Expand corporate and nonprofit board pipeline programs.
more than our share. We work more, earn less, and lead with less support. We
raise families while holding down multiple jobs. We care
• Prioritize
promotions and mentorship equity.
for communities while navigating systems that too often ignore or devalue us.
Improve Data & Accountability:
• Create a CA Black Women Equity Dashboard
But within these pages is also a powerful truth: we are not powerless. We
• Fund ongoing research from
are the key to California’s future—and when we are fully seen,
orgs like California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Black Women Organized for Political Action, Los Angeles African American Women’s Public Policy Institute, and Black Women Leadership Institute. • Build Safer, Healthier Communities that address environmental concerns
supported, and invested in, we don’t just survive—we soar.
So, let this report be a tool, a blueprint, and a catalyst. Let it shape budgets, guide legislation, inform philanthropy, and transform institutions. Let this data be the fuel that powers policies rooted in justice and practices grounded in care. Let it dismantle the false narratives that Black Women are invisible or unworthy of investment.
• Expand housing access and protections for renters and caregivers.
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To every policymaker, funder, advocate, and community leader: the time for performative allyship is over. The time for bold, data-driven, equity-centered action is now. Because when we use the truth to inform our strategies—and the stories behind the statistics to guide our steps—we don’t just change outcomes for Black Women. We change the future of California. And we will keep rising—until equity isn’t just a promise, it’s a practice.
• California Interagency Council on Homelessness (2023)
• Project Diane, State of Black & Latina Women Entrepreneurs (2023) • California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Pay Me What I’m Worth (2023) • Mount Saint Mary’s University, Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California (2023)
• American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2024
• California Black
Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Black
Women’s Quality of Life Report (2024)
• Bureau of Labor and Statistics,
XIII. Report Data Sources
Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex, and age
• California Black
• Lean In & McKinsey: State of Black Women in Corporate America
Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, State of Black Women in California (2018 and 2023)
• Ms. Foundation for Women: Pocket Change: How Women and
• Romanelli et al., MS Prevalence in Northern California (2020)
Girls of Color Do More with Less
• Affluence and Breast Cancer: Provided insights into income-related disparities and racial differences in breast cancer survival • Multiple Sclerosis in a Multi-ethnic Population from Northern California: Offered detailed epidemiological data on MS prevalence, with specific findings for non-Hispanic Black Women
• California Budget & Policy Center, Toward Equity: Racial Disparities Among California’s Women and Girls (2022) • American Heart Association, Cardiovascular Health in African Americans (2022)å • California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Maternal Mortality Data (2022)
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CA BLACK WOMEN’S COLLECTIVE
EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE
• Cancer Statistics, 2024: Highlighted national trends in cancer mortality and disparities in survival rates between Black and White women • Cardiovascular Health in African Americans: Contributed context regarding socioeconomic factors and persistent racial disparities in CVD outcomes NOTE: Portions of this report were developed using AI tools to assist in research, editing and sourcing information including ChatGPT, Scholar GPT, Jasper AI, Google Scholar and Copilot. About the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute The California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CABWCEI) is a leading statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic power of Black women and girls. Founded to fill a historic gap in research, policy advocacy, and leadership development, the Institute is home to the first and only policy think tank in the nation that exclusively focuses on the lived experiences of Black women and girls. Through groundbreaking research, dynamic programming, and intentional partnerships, CABWCEI works to dismantle systemic barriers while building pathways to prosperity and equity. From workforce development and leadership training to community engagement and policy change, the Institute serves as both a catalyst for transformation and a trusted convener of voices that too often go unheard. Since its inception, the Institute has: • Trained and empowered thousands of Black women and girls across California in leadership, advocacy, and economic mobility. • Published research reports capturing the truth of Black women’s experiences and grounding advocacy in data and lived expertise.
• Invested in grassroots organizations and initiatives that uplift communities across the state. • Honored and celebrated the brilliance and contributions of Black women trailblazers who are shaping California’s history. Our mission is clear: to ensure that Black women and girls not only survive, but thrive— fully seen, fully valued, and fully supported.
For more information, visit: cablackwomenscollective.org .
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2025 STATE OF BLACK WOMEN
IN CALIFORNIA
Authors About the
Kellie Todd Griffin Kellie Todd Griffin is the President & CEO of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute and the Founder of the California Black Women’s Think Tank at CSU Dominguez Hills—the first policy think tank in the nation exclusively focused on Black women and girls. A seasoned executive with three decades of results driven experience in Executive Leadership, Board Relations, Fundraising, Strategy, Growth and External Affairs, Griffin has led transformative initiatives across the nonprofit, academic, and corporate sectors. Under her leadership, the Institute has become a trusted source for data- driven research, policy advocacy, and leadership development, equipping Black women and girls to thrive socially, politically, and economically. Widely recognized as a thought leader and convener, Griffin’s work sits at the intersection of research, policy, and practice to advance equity and systemic change for Black communities across California. Dr. Astrid Williams Dr. Astrid Williams is a leading public health expert, researcher, and advocate committed to addressing health disparities and advancing racial and gender equity. She serves as the Research Director of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, where she oversees the development of pioneering studies that capture the lived experiences of Black women and girls and translate them into actionable policy and practice solutions. With extensive experience in both academic research and community-based interventions, Dr. Williams brings a critical lens to issues such as maternal health, mental wellness, and systemic inequities. She has published and presented widely on topics of health equity and social determinants of health, and her scholarship continues to shape policy conversations in California and beyond. Together, Griffin and Williams combine visionary leadership and rigorous research expertise to ensure that the voices, experiences, and priorities of Black women remain central to building a more equitable future.
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CA BLACK WOMEN’S COLLECTIVE
EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE
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