Nonprofit The Highland Project recently released a new report highlighting concerns about the U.S. amongst Black women who are voters.
Conducted nationwide from May 1 to May 8 this year, the survey, which consisted of 701 Black women who are registered voters, spotlighted the dissatisfaction with the state of the country amongst the women. According to the study, approximately 88% of the women reported feeling dissatisfied with the direction the government is taking; in comparison, just 8% expressed satisfaction with the direction the U.S. is taking.
Pessimism is at an all-time high, with 87% of voters stating that they believe economic conditions are worsening; this rate is up 54% from 2021 when COVID-19 destabilized the global economy. Obstacles they have faced in their search for economic stability include racism, inequality, lack of job opportunities and actions of the current administration.
Sentiments continued amongst other topics. About 59% of the women reported worries about retirement, while 54% to 58% expressed concerns about paying bills, accessing higher education and health care costs.
As a result, 45% of those involved in the survey said their mental health has gotten worse. Still, 55% agree that now is the time to gather to build a collective future.
“Black women are calling not for urgency born of crisis, but for structural solutions grounded in care,” said the survey leaders in the report. “They are clear – just as in our previous polls – that strengthening the social safety net for all, protecting democracy, improving the economy, and defending bodily autonomy must be prioritized by all leaders.”
The cost of living in America for Black women has been previously reported on, with survey leaders ringing the alarm on significant disparities. According to a 2024 Goldman Sachs report, 40% of Black women in the U.S. earn under $50,000 annually, compared to 24% of U.S. adults who earn the same amount annually overall. Even with higher education, Black women make, on average, $35,000 less than white women.
71% of Black women also said that they felt they had to live paycheck to paycheck, with 64% reporting that they had student loan debt that was $25,000 more than the overall population.
Inequities that contribute to these disparities include fewer career advancement options, lower rates of health insurance, lack of access to childcare and challenges to accessing capital.
Researchers at Goldman Sachs estimate that if the earnings gap for Black women were raised by 2.1% each year, 1.2 to 1.7 million U.S. jobs could be created.
