The article discusses the importance of black women's labor history, from working in washrooms to achieving success in business.

In the book Unerased: Black Women Speak, author Joshua Levi Perrin delves into the often overlooked history of Black women's work. It's easy to assume that the discussions of equal pay, workplace equity, and career advancement are relatively recent, but in reality, the story of Black women's work begins long before that. It starts in places like laundry rooms, kitchens, classrooms, hospitals, churches, union halls, and neighborhoods where Black women have tirelessly built lives, communities, and institutions, all while being undervalued and underpaid for their labor.

This is the main argument of a new report from economist Dr. Rhonda V. Sharpe and the Women's Institute for Science, Equity and Race.

Titled From Wash Tubs to Boardrooms: The Economic Mobility and Labor Legacy of Black Women in America, the report traces back almost 150 years of Black women's work. It connects past labor struggles to the economic challenges faced by many Black women today. Instead of viewing the current wage and wealth gaps as isolated issues, the report urges readers to see them as part of a much longer story in America.

One of the most impactful figures in the report is Oseola McCarty. Despite never marrying, not finishing elementary school, and living modestly, McCarty accumulated over $250,000 through disciplined saving from her job as a washerwoman in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. At the age of 87, she donated $150,000 to create scholarships for Black students at the University of Southern Mississippi, turning her wages into educational opportunities for future generations.

McCarty's story is just one example of a recurring theme in the report. Black women have consistently generated economic value, established institutions, strengthened communities, and invested in others. Yet, the systems surrounding their labor have rarely rewarded them in equal measure.

The report also looks back at the Atlanta washerwomen's strike of 1881, where thousands of Black women organized to demand higher wages and more control over their work. This collective action challenged both employers and local officials, making it one of the South's earliest large-scale labor movements led by Black women. This strike laid the foundation for future leaders like Nannie Helen Burroughs, who established lasting institutions focused on worker advocacy, training, and economic opportunities.

These stories are not just historical anecdotes, but they serve as evidence that Black women have always been active participants in the American economy. They have organized, challenged, and expanded it time and time again. The report then brings this legacy into the present, examining occupational segregation, educational attainment, wealth, student debt, entrepreneurship, and labor force participation.

One of its significant conclusions is that education alone has not eliminated economic disparities. While Black women have made significant progress in college attainment over the years, many still face lower earnings, higher student debt, and fewer opportunities to accumulate wealth compared to similarly educated peers. The report also argues that these disparities are not solely individual challenges.

Occupational segregation still exists, with Black women predominantly working in essential care and service professions that have historically been undervalued. Yet, these jobs are vital to the nation's economy. Therefore, understanding economic mobility requires taking a deeper look at the structures that shape opportunities in the first place.

Despite the challenges and barriers faced by Black women in the workforce, the report is not a story of inevitable hardship. It is a story of persistence, innovation, and collective action. Across generations, Black women have built schools, organized workers, established businesses, supported families, and invested in their communities, all while facing obstacles that extended far beyond the workplace.

As we approach Black Women's Equal Pay Day, the research presented in Unerased | Black Women Speak offers more than just statistics. It provides context and reminds us that the current conversations about wages, wealth, and economic justice did not appear out of nowhere. They are a continuation of a much longer story of labor, leadership, and resilience.

Understanding this helps us envision a more equitable future and emphasizes the importance of valuing Black women's work not just for what it produces but for the endless possibilities it has always created.