The education of the Black woman has always hit very close to home for me. Not solely because I am a Black woman myself but because of the first-hand experiences that have revealed to me its value. I can vividly remember the moment I realized that educational disadvantages for Black women were not merely a topic of conversation but real experiences. My son was six or seven at the time my mother and grandmother were in town visiting. I was grateful because I knew with both “Grandma” and “Great Grandma” in the house that my name would finally get a break.
As my mother cooked dinner, my son sat at the table working on one of his homework assignments. My grandmother, his great grandmother, asked if he needed help. In his innocent, childlike demeanor, he asked her, “Can you read?”
I could hear the bewilderment in her voice as she responded, “What do you mean, can I read? Yes, I can read!”
“But you didn’t go to school,” my son replied.
“What does that have to do with anything, let me see these words and teach you some things!”
You see, my grandmother was born during a time in this country when Black people, especially Black women, were forced to put things like family, household needs, etc. ahead of education. As the eldest of 14 children—yes, 14—she was forced to drop out of school in the sixth grade to not only help take care of the house but also assume the role of mother to her younger brother and sisters. Despite her circumstances, my grandmother made a promise to herself to return to school one day and receive her High School diploma.
At the age of 16, she had her own child, she was married at 18, and she was a widow with six kids by the age of 24.
She never returned to school.
Although the details may be different, I know that there are many Black women today who, like my grandmother, have had to develop themselves on their own in order to “make it” in this world. I can’t help but imagine what the outcome would be if we had more support in advancing our education.
According to a study published by the National Center for Education Statistics in 2018, Black women are the most educated group in the United States. This wasn’t always the case. During the early 1940s and 1950s, Black men were the only individuals in their households afforded the opportunity to receive and benefit from educational experiences.
They are starting businesses at astronomical rates, all while pursuing certifications to enhance their skill set and credibility. The desire has always been there; what’s been missing is the support.
The advancement of Black women does not start with funding our businesses. It can and it should start much earlier.
When looking at our education systems, there are numerous factors that play into the disparities faced by Black women. Underrepresentation and access to gateway courses like Physics, Chemistry, and other STEM programs further increase the gap of Black girls and Black women entering global marketplaces. The issue of the school to prison pipeline for Black girls and its effects have just recently begun to receive traction in research, documentation, and conversations.
That's not to mention the overall economic disadvantages Black women are up against. According to the Institute for Women's Policy Research, at our current rate of progress, Black women won't receive full pay equity compared with white men until the year 2130.
Despite the odds stacked against them, a recent report released by the Girl Scout Research Institute showcased that Black girls not only aspire to be leaders more than any other group of girls, but they are also more likely to consider themselves as leaders.
We must do a better job of ensuring that Black women of all ages are exposed to and have better access to programs that increase both their knowledge and skill set. Yes, better access to education at an early age can result in better self-fulfilling prophecies. But it doesn’t stop there.
If you truly want to support us, make a practice of empowering, educating, and inspiring Black women of all ages.
As the Founder of Buy From A Black Woman, I have witnessed firsthand the desire of Black women entrepreneurs to continue the pursuit of education. Believe it or not, Black women are going back to college to add to their existing degrees or finish degrees they have already started. They are starting businesses at astronomical rates, all while pursuing certifications to enhance their skill set and credibility. The desire has always been there; what’s been missing is the support.
Now more than ever, the Black woman’s journey to securing long-term financial gain, job stability, career satisfaction, and success outside of the workplace is something that needs to be celebrated and encouraged. I remember reviewing the Buy From A Black Woman Business Grant applications and reading how hundreds of women did not just want to fund their businesses but truly wanted to use the money to continue their education. At that moment, I realized that something needed to be done.
When thinking back to my very first model of entrepreneurship—my grandmother, a woman who did not even finish high school but still managed to trailblaze her own path to sole proprietorship—a fire ignited inside of me to be the resource that my grandmother didn’t have. Named in her honor, the Idella Scholarship, in partnership with Poise®, was created to help Black women business owners pursue higher education opportunities despite the impact of COVID-19.
The advancement of Black women does not start with funding our businesses. It can and it should start much earlier.
Black women are innovative, resilient, and tenacious. We work hard to achieve concrete benefits to help create a better future for ourselves and the generations that come behind us. But if you truly want to support us, make a practice of empowering, educating, and inspiring Black women of all ages.
Because when Black women win, we all win.
WRITTEN BY
Nikki Porcher