SPRINGFIELD – More than half a century since the Civil Rights Act became law, workers in the United States continue to earn different wages based on their race.

Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) is fighting for legislation that would prohibit wage discrimination against African-Americans under the Equal Pay Act.

 “Today, we made sure that wage equity continues to be a priority in Illinois,” Lightford said.

According to a 2017 Federal Reserve study, black men and women earn persistently lower wages compared to their white counterparts and this wage gap cannot be adequately explained by differences in education, age, job type or location.

That gap appears to be expanding rather than contracting. In 1979, the average black man in the United States earned about 80 percent compared to the average white man, by 2016 that gap had grown to 70 percent. The same is true for black women, who in 1979 earned about 95 percent compared to white women, but by 2016 earned only 82 percent of wages paid to white women on average.

House Bill 4743 prohibits employers from paying wages to an African-American employee at a rate less than the rate paid to an employee who is not African-American for the same or substantially similar work.

Governor Rauner’s veto was overridden in the Senate with a vote of 49-1, and is now under effect.

CHICAGO - Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) was named to the education transition committee for governor-elect JB Pritzker during a news conference held at Genevieve Melody STEM Elementary in Chicago.

The 35-member Educational Success Committee is the seventh of several working groups of the transition made up of experts who will advise the new administration.

“Educating our children is the most important function of government. What our children will accomplish and how much of their potential will come to fruition starts right in our classrooms. I am excited to continue my work as a strong advocate for education, and play a role in how this administration plans to tackle the issues facing our education system,” Lightford said.

Among those named to the committee were Dr. Janice Jackson, CEO of Chicago Public Schools; Dr. Michael Amiridis, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Chicago; Ginger Ostro, Executive Director, Advance Illinois; Kevin O'Mara, Professor, Concordia University; Juan Salgado, Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago; Mimi Rodman, Executive Director, Stand for Children Illinois; teachers’ union leaders; university administrators; state lawmakers; members of child advocacy organizations; and others.

The Illinois CPA Society is seeking minority college students to apply for the Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program. This highly competitive program helps prepare minority students interested in the CPA profession for entry-level accounting positions through exposure of the profession, access to training, resources and mentors. At the end of the program, participating firms will interview the students for a variety of paid internship opportunities.

Apply here: https://www.icpas.org/being-a-cpa/be-a-cpa/programs-events/MTWWProgram

On October 5, a jury of Chicagoans weighed the facts and delivered justice by convicting Jason Van Dyke for the murder of Laquan McDonald.

Four years ago, it would have been hard to imagine this outcome and the changes that have come in the aftermath of the Oct. 20, 2014, shooting.

Thanks to the eyewitnesses who felt compelled to tell their stories, to the activists who protested and organized, to independent journalists who fought to bring the truth to light and to the voters who held their elected officials accountable there have been real changes.

The City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department are different today in many ways:

• Superintendent Eddie Johnson now heads the police department.
• Kim Foxx is now the Cook County State’s Attorney.
• The Police Accountability Taskforce released a report concluding grossly inadequate oversight and racism at CPD.
• The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus lead a state-wide policing reform measure regarding body cameras, prohibiting the use of chokeholds and officer training among other changes.
• The City of Chicago now has a policy for releasing footage of police shootings.
• There is a new ‘use of force’ policy at CPD.
• The Civilian Police Investigative Agency was created.
• Seven police officers were fired for filing false reports in the McDonald shooting.

These changes came from unity. They are the result of people joining together across Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois to demand better. You have shown that good things can happen when we come together in the name of justice and equality. You have shown that justice still exists and the voice and will of the people remains a powerful tool.

None of this changes the fact that Laquan was taken from us too soon, nor does it fill the void left in his family. But his murder has motivated a fight for justice that still continues.

Now is not the time to go silent. An election is upon us. Be heard at the ballot box.

You made your voice count. Now make your vote count.

I encourage you to continue your efforts in November, next year and until you get what you deserve. I see you, and I am with you.

- Kimberly A. Lightford serves as Chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois Senate