Questioning the American Dream: A Look at the Economic Mobility of Black Women in Cincinnati
“The fact that we are here and that I speak these words is an attempt to break that silence and bridge some of those differences between us, for it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many silences to be broken.” –Audre Lorde
For the past two decades, the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation has been conducting research to shine a spotlight on economic inequity in our city. Women of Cincy is joining the fight and using storytelling to connect that research to the experiences of friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. This series is part of a larger effort by the Women’s Fund to provide historical context, current analysis of where we are today, and recommendations for change for Black women’s economic mobility.
In today’s United States of America, close to 40% of Americans cannot afford a $400 emergency expense. A Black woman’s median yearly income is $36,735 – compared to white men at $60,388. When women and minorities have entered white, male-dominated professional occupations, wages in these occupations have decreased.
There’s no way to write this letter – to introduce this series on economic mobility for Black women in Cincinnati – without recognizing where we are in this moment in time. It is the second half of 2020, and the United States is at a crossroads. Our racist history, systemic inequality, flawed economy, and political divisions have been put on display.
For Black women in America, much of this “display” has never been hidden. Leola Lynch, one of the women you’ll meet in this series, put it this way: "They give you all this trauma and then they tell you go be normal. They tell you to fit into society. Go be great, the sky's the limit. How? When you have literally put these barriers, all of this weight on me that I never even asked for."
Women of Cincy and the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation are teaming up to bring you six stories centering the economic mobility of Black women in Cincinnati. At Women of Cincy, we believe that citizens have the power to create a more equitable, inclusive city. That journey starts with taking control of our narrative and understanding one another on a deeper level. Each and every one of us has the power to create change, whether through our dollar, our voice, our vote, our interactions with our neighbors – you name it. We’re asking you to read this series and while you do so, think about how you can use whatever power it is you have to make this city a better place for every citizen to pursue happiness regardless of the color of their skin or the gender they identify with.
Our society has long-subscribed to the belief that to be successful all you have to do is “pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” This mentality has been applied to everyone, regardless of the oppressive barriers our society has built around gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status despite evidence that it is severely flawed. As you read each of these stories ask yourself ‘Are my actions a part of the solution?’ ‘What does change look like?’ ‘How do we tackle the long road ahead of real, informative, equitable change?’ And as we do so, let’s take in the wisdom right here of every day Cincinnatians.
“I have a lot of part-timers. And the ones that are working full-time, I mean, they aren't making it. And what messes it up is that if they are working full-time and trying to get assistance through Jobs and Family Services, they make too much money. It's like, I can budget them all day long, but we can only stretch a dollar so far.” –Kurstin Jones, social worker with Salvation Army
“A person who lays floor and a person who does daycare should be even. If I can't watch your child, how can you lay the floor? I feel like some things aren’t equal or fair. Sometimes it makes people quit or it makes people look for other job opportunities or it makes people come to work late or get to a point where they feel like, ‘What am I here for?’” –Jeneya Lawrence, community advocate
The women in this series are the embodiment of Black Girl Magic. They are empathetic, hardworking, badass women who deserve a future unmarked by racism, systemic inequality, and sexism. It’s our hope that through these stories you will laugh, cry, hope, and demand change. Before you dive into “Questioning the American Dream: A Look at the Economic Mobility of Black Women in Cincinnati” check out “Historical Analysis of Black Women’s Labor Trends and Systemic Barriers to Economic Mobility”, the first phase of this larger body of work.
A special thanks to our interviewees, Jeneya Lawrence, Kendra Davis, Leola Lynch, Shonetina Benson, Judith Warren, and Kurstin Jones; our interviewers, Kristyn Bridges and Sandra Okot-Kotber; and the entire Women of Cincy team for making this series possible.
To the Women’s Fund: Thank you for trusting us with this series. It’s been an absolute privilege to work on this alongside you. Our hope is that the words in this series become bigger than words.
With love,
Chelsie Walter
Executive Director
Women of Cincy