"Comparing what women of color are paid to what white, non-Hispanic men make demonstrates the enormous economic impact of the double burden of sexism and racism," wrote Brandie Temple, a public-policy fellow at the nonprofit National Women's Law Center (NWLC), and Jasmine Tucker, director of research at the organization, in an online post.
NWLC calculations, based on the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey for 2016, revealed that when comparing all men and women who work full time, year-round in the U.S., women were paid just 80 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts. But the wage gap was even larger when looking specifically at black women who work full time, year-round—they were paid only 63 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men.
"This gap, which amounts to a loss of $21,001 a year, means that black women have to work more than 19 months—until the very last day of July—to make as much as white, non-Hispanic men did in the previous 12-month calendar year," Temple and Tucker observed.
NWLC also found that:
- Black women make up 10 percent of the low-wage workforce—jobs that typically pay less than $11 per hour, or about $22,880 annually—while they make up just 6.2 percent of the overall workforce.
- Black women's share of the high-wage workforce—jobs that pay more than $48 per hour, or about $100,000 annually—is less than half their representation in the overall workforce.
About the Show
Since the beginning of the War on Drugs, the number of women in U.S. prisons has grown drastically. The majority are mothers.
Three unforgettable formerly incarcerated mothers, jailed for drug-related charges, fight to overcome alienation—and a society that labels them “felons”—to readjust to life with their families.
Apart | Official Trailer | Independent Lens | PBS
Premieres Monday, February 21. Check local listings: https://to.pbs.org/388uf14
Official Website: pbs.org/apart | #ApartPBS
Alexandria Mack is a lover of storytelling, curls & mini crosswords. A native of Milwaukee, Alexandria's favorite part of producing for Black Nouveau is getting out into the community and meeting the beautiful people and stories that make up the city she calls home. Prior to her time at Milwaukee PBS, she earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and went on to work as a digital producer at TMJ4 News.
Alexandria has won honors from the National Association of Black Journalists, International Women in Media Foundation and the Milwaukee Press Club. When she's not transcribing, you can find "Lexi" making memories with her husband Bryan.
Panel Members
Tamra Oman is currently the Statewide Director for the FREE Campaign. FREE is the women’s division of EXPO (Ex Incarcerated People Organizing). The FREE Campaign organizes around issues women who have been impacted by the Justice System face. She Is the 2015 recipient of the State of Wisconsin’s Virginia Hart award. She is a national speaker, consultant, group facilitator, and believes deeply in cultivating a culture of hope, healing, and compassion for all. She is a co-founder of Hope Road Soul Punch Skill Training (with love). Her audiences range from corrections, judicial folks, lawyers, law enforcement, juvenile justice, school systems, county agencies, community support agencies, Peer Support Agencies, SAMSHA grantees, and participants at many, many conferences. Her former “day job” for nearly 12 years was a Human Services Program Coordinator Recovery Support Specialist at the Wisconsin Resource Center; a mental health treatment facility classified as a prison. She was the first “peer/consumer” to be hired in the state of Wisconsin to work in a correctional facility in the past 30 years. Over the last 17 years she has been working with individuals in the criminal justice system with addiction and mental health challenges. She has been an AODA Counselor for 14 years. She has facilitated Thinking for a Change, Anger management, Domestic Violence groups, and assisted people with reentry planning. She has sat on many committees, developed programs, and helped develop policy and procedures that represent the voice of those we serve. She has also been a part of helping to develop a Peer Support Program that has an interest in creating an environment that is also mindful of the potential for vicarious trauma and its affects on the individuals who work serving others.
Ms. Oman uses humor and compassion to connect with her audience. She brings a unique perspective based on her own personal and professional experiences. Ms. Oman is a proponent of systems creating a recovery “culture” that includes Trauma Informed Care, Person Centered Planning, Strength Based Approach, Motivational Interviewing, and Evidence Based Practices.
Lavansa Jackson is the Executive Director of Milwaukee Block Inc., (Blacks Liberating
Our Communities through Knowledge). She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised
by West Indian parents, her mother was from Jamaica and her father from Barbados. She
got involved with the street gangs that dealt with selling drugs and guns. At the age of
16, in the state of North Carolina, they waited till she turned 19 yrs. old to trial her as an
adult. She was sentenced to 16 years and 5 1⁄2 years on paper. She did 16 years inside
and 3 1⁄2 on the outside. The criminal justice system took 19 1⁄2 years of her life.
After being released from incarceration, Lavansa began doing evangelistic work
throughout Brooklyn and Harlem, New York to help other people to understand God’s
love. Lavansa met a gentleman which led to her moving to Milwaukee and marrying the
man of her dreams who introduced her to community organizing, which she has
embraced and grown in. She is now stepping in the direction of helping the youth and
building back up communities in Milwaukee. Her heart is led in the direction to repair the
brokenness of our young people. She is now the Executive Director of Milwaukee
B.L.O.C.K ( Black Liberating Our Community Knowledge). A service providing
organization that focuses reentry, and the upliftment of youth.
Shanita Lawrence holds an Associate Degree from Madison Area Technical College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Upper Iowa University and is an Alumni of the UW Odyssey Project . Shanita is a Reentry Resource Specialist and Rapid Rehousing Case Manager with JustDane. She is also a Case Manager at Safe Haven day shelter for individuals who are unhoused and who have been diagnosed as having a mental illness.
As a Reentry Resource Specialist and Rapid Rehousing Case Manager Shanita walks alongside justice involved individuals as they work to secure housing, employment, and access additional supports within the community. As a person with justice system involvement Shanita understands well the barriers people face as they seek to rebuild their lives after incarceration.
Shanita has completed the State of WI Certified Peer Specialist Training and is waiting to take the State Certification Exam. She is a Certified Parenting Inside Out Facilitator and a volunteer with the Prison Ministry Restorative Justice Program through First Congregational Church in Madison. Shanita received the 2020 Transitional Celebration Award from MOSES.
When not work Shanita enjoys spending time with her 7 children, grandson and puppy Maple. She also enjoys reading and taking walks.
Christal Arroyo Roman is a directly impacted organizer for the FREE Campaign in Milwaukee WI and a paralegal. Having earned her paralegal degree while incarcerated, Christal uses her experience with sentencing adjustments to assist those impacted by the criminal justice system. She believes her experience is her voice to advocate and uses her lived experience to help directly impacted women find their voice restore their dignity and build them up into being productive leaders in the community she is a strong supporter of Criminal Justice Reform.