Black women in the United States are being killed at rates far higher than any other group, a pattern researchers describe as a severe and neglected health disparity with deadly consequences. Public health scholars warn that these deaths reflect not isolated crimes, but a systemic crisis rooted in racism, gendered violence, and unequal social conditions.
In 2020, Black women were murdered at a rate of 11.6 per 100,000 people, compared with three per 100,000 among White women. The gap was widest in Wisconsin, where Black women were 20 times more likely to be killed. Tameka Gillum, an associate professor at the University of New Mexico College of Population Health, said the numbers reveal “a clear and severe disparity” that demands a focused response.
Most of these deaths involve people the victims know. More than half of Black women murdered in 2020 were killed by current or former romantic partners, and 90% knew the person responsible. Gillum said the constant awareness of this risk creates chronic stress and trauma. “Black women experience a significant psychological burden, existing in a context where there is such disregard for their health and well-being,” she said.
Pregnancy intensifies the danger. Between 2000 and 2019, homicide became a leading cause of death for Black women during and after pregnancy. Researchers found that 42% of Black women who died from non-childbirth causes were killed through violence, a pattern that disrupts families and community health.
Gillum linked the crisis to structural racism, including poverty, greater exposure to guns, and heavier policing. She noted that Black women are often hesitant to call police because prior encounters have sometimes ended in harm. “For any other health disparity of this magnitude, we would be drawing due attention and investing appropriate resources,” she said. “But since it is Black women’s lives at stake, the issue fades to the background.”
See: “The Killing of Black Women in America: A Public Health Crisis” (December 11, 2025)
