Black women
Coverage of Black women in the Nexus archive.
- Gun homicides declined in 2024 as firearm suicides hit record high, data shows
Gun homicides in the U.S. declined by 16% in 2024, while firearm suicides reached a record high of 27,593 deaths. Total firearm-related deaths fell 5% to 44,447, with firearms remaining the leading cause of death for children and teens ages 1–17 for the fifth consecutive year.
- Women make up half of Louisiana’s population but less than 25% of its legislature
Women make up 51% of Louisiana’s population and 55% of registered voters but hold only 22% of House and 14% of Senate seats. Despite historical milestones since 1936, progress in legislative representation has been slow, though Black women’s relative gains in elected office align with state demographics.
- Four Black women. Nine degrees. Not one steady paycheck.
Four Black women with nine degrees combined have not secured steady paychecks, highlighting challenges in the job market. The president's promise to save 'Black jobs' has led to a widening employment gap, causing pain for the Black middle class.
- WA report reveals experience of Black women in public sector
A Washington State Women’s Commission report found Black women in the public sector face persistent bias and scrutiny, with limited options for recourse.
- ‘Not Doing Enough’: NY Maternal Mortality Reforms Haven’t Closed Racial Gap
New York State's maternal mortality reforms, initiated eight years ago, show delayed progress in addressing racial disparities, with Black women still dying at disproportionately high rates during and after childbirth. A 2023 audit highlights expanded initiatives but persistent gaps, including Black women being five times more likely than white women to die pregnancy-related deaths.
- Stress from racism may help explain why black women more likely to die in childbirth, study finds
A Cambridge study suggests that stress from racism and deprivation may contribute to higher maternal mortality rates among Black women by elevating oxidative stress, inflammation, and uteroplacental vascular resistance during pregnancy. Researchers analyzed 44 existing studies to identify these physiological pathways linked to worse outcomes.
- Kamala Harris torches own party members invested in holding on to their 'title,' admits, 'I am exhausted'
Former Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Democratic Party members for prioritizing titles over action, admitting she is 'exhausted' by their self-interest. She emphasized the need for accountability and hinted at a potential 2028 presidential run, while urging Black women to adopt a more transactional approach to political engagement.