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How Resilient Black Women Turn Job Loss into New Ventures

THE AFRO — According to the Economic Policy Institute, in 2025, the employment rate for Black women decreased by 1.4 percentage points to 55.7 percent. The employment-to-population ratio for Black women with a bachelor’s degree dropped 3.5 percentage points over the past year, a larger decline than any other education group, including those without a college degree.

Published

8 months ago

March 21, 2026

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By Tashi McQueen | AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

In the aftermath of mass layoffs in 2025, many Black women are turning uncertainty into opportunity by launching businesses, strengthening professional networks and being innovative. Through resilience, creativity and community support, they are carving paths to stability and success in a shifting economy.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, in 2025, the employment rate for Black women decreased by 1.4 percentage points to 55.7 percent. The employment-to-population ratio for Black women with a bachelor’s degree dropped 3.5 percentage points over the past year, a larger decline than any other education group, including those without a college degree.

Mary-Frances Winters, author of “Black Fatigue” and an equity, diversity and inclusion expert, believes Black women are turning layoffs into opportunity by starting businesses and building supportive networks. Photo Credit: Courtesy Photo.

“Black women are in professions that have been targeted,” said Mary-Frances Winters,

Winters noted that Black women disproportionately occupy diversity, inclusion, and equity, human resources, and government roles, which have been targeted and eliminated under the 47th president’s administration.

Since the federal ban on diversity initiatives, many organizations have cut chief diversity officer positions and related inclusion programs, leaving Black women in these roles suddenly jobless or facing insecure employment. Winters, who still works in diversity, inclusion, and equity, said entrepreneurship has been a key solution.

“What we find that Black women do is that they leave and start their own businesses,” she said.

According to the 2025 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Businesses report, Black women-owned businesses are a key engine of economic growth in the U.S., overseeing 2 million businesses that employ more than 647,000 people.

Winters emphasized that these challenges predate the administration’s crackdown and are systemic.

“I could only stay in corporate for 10 years,” she said. “The microaggressions, the discrimination that I faced…when people see a Black woman—the assumption is you’re not as good, you’re not as smart, and you have to be twice as good.”

Winters added that this experience leads to burnout.

“Black women are at the bottom when it comes to salaries, getting promoted, being seen, being appreciated, being valued and recognized for their talent,” she said.

“I know several of the women who did occupy chief diversity officer roles left on their own,” Winters said, noting that some resigned because promoting inclusion in the current political environment became overwhelming. “Trump has the thing around it’s about merit…what’s the message there? That we aren’t of merit?”

Data from the Economic Policy Institute shows the employment-to-population ratio for Black women decreased to 55.7 percent in 2025, marking a sharper decline than for other groups, while Black men remained highest at 61.0 percent. Photo Credit: Chart courtesy of the Economic Policy Institute

Winters shed light on how some of these women are persevering.

“I live in Barbados part-time,” she said. “Here, we have a group called the Black Pax Group, it’s expats who are Black who have left England, the United States, Canada, and who are either semi-retired, taking a year off because they got a buyout from their organization or they are starting their own business.”

Many of these businesses are in the wellness market, providing services to support Black women’s wellbeing, while others are small consulting firms.

“Black women in general are fatigued,” said Winters. “We are tired of having to continually defend and prove ourselves.”

She also encouraged support for entrepreneurial Black women and highlighted the importance of community.

Denise Aguilar, a global marketing strategist and founder of Denise Aguilar Consulting, is one of the many Black women who faced layoffs in 2025 and demonstrates resilience in how she has managed to move forward. Photo Credit: Courtesy Photo.

Denise Aguilar, a global marketing strategist, shared how she has turned layoffs into opportunities. Laid off in May 2025 after two years as global account director at Indigo Slate, she intensified her consulting practice, Denise Aguilar Consulting, and secured advisory roles with startups and the Latin Recording Academy Foundation. Aguilar, an Afrolatina with more than 15 years at Microsoft, Amazon and Vogue, said layoffs are difficult, but the real challenge is moving forward.

“I used to apply for 20 jobs a day because I needed to find a job immediately,” she said. “I would go on Craigslist, I would knock on doors… and do everything in my power to land the next thing.”

Aguilar credits her resilience to a strong support network of family, friends, and community. Her approach shows that even in uncertain times, determination, strategy, and support can turn setbacks into opportunities.

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Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts

Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

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Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

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61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.