It has been been reported that the great termination has led to nearly 300,000 black women fired so far in 2025. Indeed according to the U S Bureau of Labor Statistics a significant and disproportionate number of black women have left the workforce in the first half of 2025. Black women, based on analysis of data from the National Center for Education Statistics, are consistently one of the most highly educated groups in the United States, outpacing Black men in earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. They were let go from the workforce, but that makes we wonder, what’s next for them, for us, for me?
Picture it, 300,000 highly educated black women who are given their time back to hear their inner voice and contribute to the world. What poets, writers, singers, entrepreneurs, visionaries, educators, inventors will spring from this? Indeed what will spring from all the people who were let go, because they were not let go to curl up and be quiet, but let go to thrive not merely survive.
Yes, I think these women who were released, some or dare I say most of them will blossom and use it as a springboard to fulfill their true purpose. For example, in the segregation era from 1877 to roughly the mid-1960’s, it was difficult for us, however despite immense legal and social barriers, Black people demonstrated extraordinary resilience, resourcefulness, and collective achievement by building self-sustaining institutions and communities.
Here is a breakdown of some success despite barriers during segregation: Black wall street, entrepreneurship like insurance companies, hair care businesses, and HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges) thrived. In summary, Black people achieved success not because of segregation, but in spite of it. This success was often restricted, localized, and constantly under threat, yet it served as a crucial foundation for the Civil Rights Movement and preserved dignity, culture, and economic advancement for millions.
So we definitely are facing challenges, but we are resilient. I think we will rise. Like Ludacris says in the song, “All I do is win”.. “don’t count me out, count me in…cause all I do is win!” Black folks, let’s go!
What do you think, comment below.
Jacqueline Levermore is a mom and author of Cherub- The Human Race. When she is not busy writing she enjoys singing, exercising and reading.