Higher Heights Shares Key Findings on What Black Women Feel Is the Current State of Their Union

BROOKLYN (February 28, 2022) – Higher Heights for America, the leading national organization exclusively dedicated to advancing Black women’s political power, has released the key findings from polling data on the top issues of concern to Black women voters. The poll, done in conjunction with Change Research, had a polling base of 507 registered Black women voters nationwide from January 4-9, 2022. 

As the country prepares to hear from President Biden during his first State of the Union and just 8 months until the November 2022 mid-term elections, the poll shows that the two top issues for Black women are voting rights and racism. Many of the respondents noted that these issues are the main ones that keep them up at night, especially when it comes to voter suppression. Another top issue amongst Black women voters are racism and white supremacy, and on the heels of the insurrection that took place on January 6, 2021, it’s no surprise. 

Below are other key findings: 

• 65% of Black women voters are extremely worried about inflation and rising costs of goods and necessities, and a majority report that their cost of living has gone up. 

• The top issues that have frustrated Black women most during the pandemic are people refusing to get vaccinated, lack of clear communications of the spread of the virus and being asked to return to in-person work before it was safe to do so. 
• 7 in 10 say it is extremely important to them that Black women be elected and nominated to more positions of power in our government. 
• 86% of Black women voters support prioritizing nominating the first Black woman to the Supreme Court when the next seat becomes available. 
• Overall, 89% of Black women voters support the Build Back Better Act, and a majority (62%) strongly support it. 91% of Black women support the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package to invest in roads, bridges, rail service, drinking water pipes, ports, broadband internet and the electric grid, and a majority (68%) strongly support it. 
• 65% of Black women voters are extremely worried about inflation and rising costs of goods and necessities, and a majority report that their cost of living has gone up. 

• 56% of Black women voters think gun violence in their communities has increased recently, while 38% think it has stayed the same and 6% think it has gone down 
• 3 in 4 Black women voters are extremely worried about teachers being prevented from educating children about the history and legacy of racism. 

These critical issues impact Black women’s everyday lives.  Black women want economically thriving, education-rich, healthy, and safe communities.  These issues should be the focus of Congress, our elected leaders, and candidates who are vying for their votes this November. Black women are a powerful voting bloc and as we head into the 2022 midterms, they will be looking to the candidates vying for their votes to not only center these issues but provide public policy solutions. These issues will no doubt affect how Black women use their vote.  

###