Lorain NBPW Club discusses challenges facing Black women during Women's History Month tea

LORAIN — The Lorain Negro Business and Professional Women's Club hosted its annual Founder's Day and Women's History program on Saturday. Filling the event space at Valuable Solutions Community and Empowerment Center on West Fourth Street, attendees sported bright, spring dresses and hats for an afternoon tea and a panel moderated by local journalist and film producer Betty Halliburton. After an introduction by Wendy Caldwell, founder and executive director for P2R, Halliburton moderated a discussion between Oberlin Municipal Court Judge Farah Emeka, retired magistrate Charlita Anderson-White, Charlesetta Brown and Regan Phillips. Women are still supposed to care for their families while facing pressure from every side, Halliburton said, referencing estimates that more than 300,000 Black women have lost or left their jobs since President Donald Trump returned to office last year. She asked each panelist to weigh in on what that pressure feels like. Anderson-White said she had a theory that the ramp of immigration enforcement was meant to push Black workers into those roles — back to the fields, back to work as maids or housekeepers. "These women that have been fired from their federal jobs … all of these women now have to scrounge and scrimp and save and sell their homes to feed their families — so who can buy their homes, take their jobs, benefit from the labor they've already given to this country?" There is a lot of anxiety toward the future, she said, and called for that anxiety to be put into action, including by educating Black women and surrounding them with positive role models and the opportunity to learn and grow. It was a call echoed later in the afternoon, highlighting the importance of the next generation of NBPW Club members and other young people to be in the room at events. Emeka said her children understood her struggle and her journey to get to where she was, noting if the youth do not see individuals who look like them in roles like hers, or in rooms with politicians or powerful figures, they will not see the value in it. "It is important to know you have the innate ability to accomplish what you want to accomplish," she said. "Don't listen to the noise, don't react to the people who don't react to you." Brown said there must be a push "back to our basics," with the importance on family and communication. She reminded those in attendance to ask for help when they need it, and share what they have while investing where they can. "I should be able to come tell you what's wrong with me," she said. "But if you don't tell me, then no one knows." Phillips saw changes across generational lines, with shifts in familial structures and perspectives. "It has such a different way than it was years ago," she said. "My advice is that we have to believe in the word of god and believe we all have a talent, ability and gift and recognize what that looks like and tag the next generation." For more information about the Lorain NBPW Club, visit nanbpwc.org or email lnbpwc@gmail.com. Contact Carissa Woytach at cwoytach@chroniclet.com.