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Racism, stress, and economic instability function like hidden taxes on Black women’s lives. In 2025, Black women are more likely to face layoffs, more likely to be the breadwinner, and more likely to suffer from chronic stress-related health conditions. All of this adds up to lost earnings, shortened careers, and untapped potential.

Racism doesn’t just hurt feelings—it drains wallets. When Black women are passed over, underpaid, or laid off due to systemic bias, the ripple effects touch families, communities, and the broader economy. In 2025, that trend has escalated, with Black women losing jobs at double the rate of the national average. Add the physiological stress of racism to the mix, and the result is a costly national crisis.

Chronic stress is costing Black Americans billions in lost productivity, increased healthcare expenses, and diminished earning capacity. Factors like workplace discrimination, wage gaps, and job instability disproportionately affect our community, especially Black women. These stressors can lead to burnout, career stagnation, and even early exits from the workforce.

The cost of chronic stress in the African American community is staggering, not only in terms of health but also in lost earning potential. Elevated stress hormones, often triggered by workplace discrimination, job insecurity, and economic strain, can lead to burnout, absenteeism, and even early exit from the labor force. For Black women facing the brunt of 2025 layoffs, the pressure is especially acute.

Chronic stress—rooted in daily experiences of systemic bias, economic uncertainty, and health disparities—reduces productivity, increases healthcare costs, and erodes long-term wealth accumulation. Studies have linked prolonged stress exposure in African Americans to an average of five fewer healthy life years, translating into lost earnings and medical expenses.