Black Women in Pittsburgh’s Nonprofit Leadership: Navigating Inequity in the Field of Social Justice

Abstract

In 2019 Pittsburgh’s Gender Equity Commission published a study that revealed the crippling effects of the intersectionality of race and gender on Black women (Howell et al., 2019). In indices measured, including poverty and employment, Black women scored worse than 90 percent of comparable cities. As such, many Black women rely on nonprofits for critical needs, just as many rely on nonprofits for employment. However, research estimates that only three percent of nonprofit leaders are Black women (Bowers, 2021). And they often find themselves navigating the same systems of oppression as those they serve. Through the lenses of Black feminist thought and intersectionality/misogynoir, this study finds racial and gender discrimination prove challenging for Black women in leadership in the city’s social sector. In particular, microaggressions and feelings of isolation were most reported. However, engaging in dialogue with other Black women and focusing on positively impacting their communities proved sources of empowerment.