A new national poll is sounding the alarm: Black women voters are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the direction of the United States.
A whopping 88% of Black women are expressing discontent with the nation’s current path, a staggering 52-point jump since 2021. But this isn’t a story of disillusionment. It’s a call to action.
According to the Spring 2025 Poll of Black Women Voters in America, conducted by The Highland Project and Brilliant Corners Research and Strategy, this growing dissatisfaction is deeply rooted in systemic inequities—from economic instability and eroding reproductive rights to the ongoing neglect of mental health and educational equity.
“These numbers don’t just reflect discontent—they reflect a breaking point,” wrote Gabrielle Wyatt, founder and CEO of The Highland Project, in a recent op-ed published in Essence that highlighted the data. “What may look like a retreat is, in fact, a strategic pause. A moment to reassess. To build anew.”
Economic Strain and Job Losses Hit Hard
Black women are feeling the economic squeeze more intensely in 2025 than they did even at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.
- 87% say economic conditions are worsening, up 54 points from 2021.
- 57% report their wages are falling behind the cost of living, with only 4% saying they are getting ahead.
- 50% were impacted by recent federal job cuts, and Black women lost over 106,000 jobs in April 2025 alone—more than any other demographic group, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The economic fallout isn’t just about paychecks, it’s affecting mental health. Nearly half (45%) of Black women say their mental health has worsened over the past year due to national instability. In a striking act of self-preservation, 67% have disengaged from the news entirely just to protect their peace.
Still, There’s Fire in the Fight
Despite the mounting challenges, this isn’t a story of resignation. 55% of Black women voters still believe now is the time to take action—to protect rights, rebuild trust, and redefine the nation’s priorities.
Across the country, Black women are leading the charge for structural, long-term solutions—not band-aid fixes. Frameworks like Black Women’s Best and work by organizations such as The Maven Collaborative and Springboard to Opportunities are emphasizing the collective benefit of an economy that centers Black women—not as tokens, but as strategists.
“Democracy is not a destination—it’s something we must co-create courageously and imaginatively,” said Wyatt, echoing voices like Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, whose book No One Is Self-Made underscores the truth that collectivism, not rugged individualism, is the engine of progress.
A Vision for What’s Next
The message from Black women is clear: progress for them cannot be treated as optional. They are calling for:
- Equitable wages and access to stable employment
- Protection of reproductive rights and bodily autonomy
- Robust investment in education and community health
- Mental health care as a priority, not an afterthought
- Leadership and decision-making roles that reflect their lived realities
Black women have long been the backbone of democracy, community care, and civic participation. But as Wyatt writes, “Surviving isn’t the same as thriving.” The poll confirms what many already knew: Black women are demanding more—and they deserve more.
This is a moment of reckoning. But it’s also a moment of radical possibility. When Black women lead, everyone benefits. If America is to truly right its course, it must do more than listen—it must follow their lead.
