Black households give 25% more of their income than whites, and almost two-thirds of Black people give to organizations and causes, amounting to $11 billion/year, per a report by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation,
This data is very interesting since the racial wealth gap has left many Black American lagging behind other racial groups. The Urban Institute stated that the average white man earns $2.7 million through his life while a Black man can earns up to $1.8 million. For full-time employed Black women, CNBC reported that their average earnings amount to about $964,400 over their lifetime.
This data is staggering. It shows that despite the disparity, Black women continue to lead with their hearts, regardless of their walk of life.
Some of our favorite celebrities, for instance, are household names because of their work in entertainment but it’s their philanthropic work that makes them true stars in our eyes.
01
Yara Shahidi
This 21-year-old actress and recent Harvard grad has a change agent for social causes. Along with speaking out about civil rights issues using her huge social media platforms, she’s frequently partnered with charitable organizations to raise awareness around their important work. In 2020, for instance, she joined forces with St. Jude Hospital to hep fundraise for children’s care.
02
Naomi Osaka
The four-time Grand Slam champion has always spoken on the importance of empathy and kindness. Last year, Osaka said she’d donate her earnings from the Western & Southern to the relief efforts in Haiti following their devastating tropical storm destroyed much of the country. “I’m about to play a tournament this week and I’ll give all the prize money to relief efforts for Haiti. I know our ancestors’ blood is strong we’ll keep rising”
03
Queen Latifah
The successful multi-hyphenate entertainer has always been a staunch supporter of Black prosperity, but her latest efforts solidified it. The Newark, NJ native recently came back home for the groundbreaking of an affordable housing development aimed at providing low income residents with a beautiful place to live.
The three-story building will house 16 affordable housing units for those earning less than 80% of the city’s median income, according to Alberto Goncalves, CEO of Life Assets per reports.
Latifah also launched the Queen Collective, in partnership with Proctor & Gamble, a program that equips female filmmakers with the tools needed to make their dreams come true.
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04
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith has been on our screens for over three decades. She’s been an activist for just as long. From participation in the Million Women March in 1997 to being an incredible philanthropist today. Alongside her husband, Together with her husband, she launched the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, which aids communities across the country.
Alongside her husband Russell Wilson, Ciara has become heavily involved at children’s hospitals in the US, where she spends time and charitable dollars to children in with critical health conditions. This is along with her work with other organizations combatting social justice issues.
06
Viola Davis
Viola Davis has shared her early struggles having been raised in extreme poverty, so she’s aware of the harmful of effecets of childhood hunger. That’s why she’s used her platform to raise awareness of the issue with charitable partnerships that help raise funds and awareness to end childhood hunger in the US.
07
Kerry Washington
We know her for playing the iconic Olivia Pope role in Scandal as a fixer. Little did we know, Kerry Washington has that in common with her character as well. The SAG-AFTRA Foundation recently Washington with its Actors Inspiration Award for giving back to her colleagues in Hollywood as well as the world. President Obama appointed her to the Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in 2009 and she was given the NAACP President’s Award in 2013 for public service work.
If there’s one thing about me, all of my paid time off will be used and accounted for each year. Why? Because I’ve learned the hard way what the physical, mental and emotional toll that “being committed to the grind” can have on me. And let’s say, those years I did without it did me — and those around me — no good.
So since that, I’ve been a PTO warrior. Using my days off for whatever it is I choose: vacation, a mental health day, medical appointments, in bed, you name it.
Unfortunately, not everyone is as fortunate. In fact, according to a survey from Expedia, more than half of Americans don’t use up all of their allotted vacation days. Not only is it time, but money, that people are leaving on the table. Particularly if you work for a company where your days don’t roll over year after year.
Listen, I get it. The pressure to always be “on” is real, especially for Black women who often feel we have to work twice as hard to get half as far. But here’s the truth: taking your time off isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity and, honestly, a form of resistance against a system that doesn’t always prioritize our wellbeing.
So, let’s make 2025 the year we reclaim our time (literally). I’m about to put you on game with some strategic ways to maximize those precious PTO days, because this year, we’re not leaving a single day on the table.
Let’s start with your first power move of the year. Even though Martin Luther King Jr. Day has passed, the next federal holiday — Presidents’ Day — falls on Monday, February 17, 2025. Take the rest of that week off (February 18-21) and you’ve turned a regular three-day weekend into a nine-day break using only four PTO days. That’s what I call smart girl math.
Looking ahead to spring, Easter weekend gives us another golden opportunity. With Good Friday on April 18, taking the following week off (April 21-25) turns into a luxurious 10-day respite. Imagine spending those days reconnecting with family, taking that solo trip you’ve been dreaming about, or simply catching up on all those books on your nightstand.
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Summer strategy? Let’s talk about it. July 4th lands on a Friday in 2025, making it perfect for a proper summer escape. Take July 7-11 off, and you’ve engineered yourself a 10-day vacation with just five PTO days. That’s enough time to actually unwind on that beach trip instead of rushing through it.
Now, for my favorite part – the holiday season. Christmas falls on a Thursday in 2025, which means with some clever planning, you can create an extended break that feels like a proper sabbatical. Take December 26 and December 29-31 off, and you’re looking at an 11-day break while only using four PTO days. Talk about ending the year strong!
But here’s the real tea – it’s not just about when you take the time off, it’s about how you use it. Stop feeling guilty about taking mental health days. Stop checking your work email on vacation. Stop thinking you need a “good reason” to use your PTO. Having a day to just exist, to breathe, to do absolutely nothing? That’s reason enough.
Pro tip: Book these dates early. Like, now early. The secret to getting your PTO approved is being the first one to ask for it. Create calendar reminders for yourself to submit these requests, especially for those prime holiday periods when everyone’s trying to get the same days off.
And please, let’s normalize taking our time off without apology. No more “I’m sorry to be away” email signatures. No more feeling bad about leaving tasks for a few days. The work will be there when you get back, but these moments of rest and joy? They’re irreplaceable.
2025 is our year to prioritize ourselves, and that includes using every single PTO day we’ve earned. Because at the end of the day, no one ever looked back on their life and wished they’d spent more time at work.