Black women in America are being murdered at drastically higher rates than other groups, revealing a severe and largely ignored public health emergency. Research by Tameka Gillum at The University of New Mexico shows that in 2020, Black women were killed at a rate of 11.6 per 100,000 people compared to three per 100,000 for white women. Wisconsin presented the most extreme disparity, where Black women faced 20 times greater risk than white women.
The violence often comes from familiar sources. More than half of Black women murdered in 2020 were killed by current or former romantic partners, and 90 percent knew their killer. Pregnant Black women and new mothers face especially high danger, with homicide becoming a leading cause of death for this group between 2000 and 2019.
Gillum emphasizes the psychological toll of living under constant threat. “Black women experience a significant psychological burden, existing in a context where there is such disregard for their health and well-being,” she said. The research team worries about the welfare of daughters, mothers, sisters and friends.
Police violence compounds the problem. Since 2015, Black women have comprised 20 percent of women killed by police despite representing only 13 percent of the female population. More than half were unarmed. Between 2015 and 2021, of 100 officers involved in fatal shootings of Black women, none were convicted.
Gillum argues the crisis demands urgent attention and investment in Black communities to address underlying poverty and inequality.
See: “The Killing of Black Women in America: A Public Health Crisis” (December 11, 2025)
