In honour of Black Women's Equal Pay Day, Serena Williams penned an essay on the wage gap women of colour face for Fortune.
At the onset, the superstar athlete hits us with the facts: Black women make 63 percent of what white men make, and earn 17 per cent less than white women.
"Even black women who have earned graduate degrees get paid less at every level. This is as true in inner cities as it is in Silicon Valley," she writes. "Together, we will change the story — but we are going to have to fight for every penny."
Though Williams admits she's "financially successful" (she's the only female in Forbes' highest paid athletes of 2017 list); she's still not immune.
"In every stage of my life, I've had to learn to stand up for myself and speak out," Williams recalls. "I have been treated unfairly, I've been disrespected by my male colleagues and — in the most painful times — I've been the subject of racist remarks on and off the tennis court."
Though the disparity is wide, Williams believes change is possible, but it requires help from men and women of all races and financial backgrounds to recognise the problem, and understand that "an injustice to one is an injustice to all."
The pro-athlete also joined SurveyMonkey's board of directors to raise awareness on the pay gap black women face. According to a study she helped initiate, 69 per cent of black women are aware of the wage gap, while only 44 per cent of white men are. Three-quarters of black women also admit they see major hurdles holding back racial minorities in the workplace.
Williams finishes with words of encouragement. "I want to bring my perspective and experiences as an athlete, an entrepreneur and a black woman to the boardroom and help create a more inclusive environment in this white, male-dominated industry. And I want every woman of colour to do the same."
