How Freelancing Can Offer Black Professionals a Path Away From Toxic Corporate Culture

by Working Today Inc.

On Juneteenth, we reflect on the importance of freedom that is not just symbolic, but material, via economic advancement.

Juneteenth is more than the anniversary of a historic milestone. It’s about perseverance, self-determination, and the ongoing pursuit of economic freedom.

The first half of 2025 has seen major rollbacks in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Businesses across corporate America have complied with the Trump administration’s decrees against DEI, be it through eliminating diversity hiring programs or removing DEI data from their website — even though it’s proven these initiatives are a boon for business success.

For many Black freelancers, freelancing provides a career path that isn’t at the whims of potentially shrinking diversity quotas, or the potential for a hostile work environment that’s dependent on who’s president. It’s a chance to embrace your full self in your work and to create monetary value for yourself in doing so.

Black entrepreneurship is surging

Given the respite freelancing can provide from toxic corporate culture, it’s not surprising to learn that a large number of Black professionals are interested in becoming self-employed.

According to a 2024 LinkedIn study, 77% of Black professionals aspire to be an entrepreneur or start their own business in the next year. However, this same study also found that 63% of those same freelancers are unsure how to get started. This gap between interest in being a freelancer and the ability to execute on it is also reflected in a 2022 study from the Pew Research Center, which found that Black-owned firms make up only 3 percent of American businesses — a jarring statistic, particularly when taken in hand with the data that 85 percent of businesses are white-owned.

Systemic barriers in freelance remain

Unfortunately freelancing has its own systemic barriers — they’re different barriers than those of corporate culture, but they’re barriers all the same.

In a blog post written by one of our contributors, Tyra Seldon, she outlined some of the feedback she’d received on what prevents Black workers from making the jump to freelance.

  • Lack of Security: Generally speaking, I think people of color are dissuaded from pursuing careers that are believed to be unreliable, unstable, etc.
  • Lack of Representation: I was barely acquainted with any freelancers when I first started pursuing a freelance career, never mind freelancers who could clearly demonstrate that it was a viable career for Black freelancers.
  • Lack of Mentors: This goes in hand with the aforementioned point. Many people don’t have anyone else to guide them. I’m basically viewed as the resident “successful freelance writer” among my friends here, and even I, admittedly, have neither the time nor the desire to mentor many people.
  • Stretched Too Thin: Many Black people, women in particular, have to wear many hats with a limited amount of support. Pursuing a freelancer career may be an unnecessary risk and another problem to juggle.

We can level the playing field — together

We know that for Black employees, the desire to freelance is there. The talent is there. And we know freelancing can lead to empowering work experiences, with increased career satisfaction. 

So how can we help ensure freelance is equitable for all?

Freelancers Union is pleased to offer tools that can help freelancers to empower themselves to earn more money and keep it, and strengthen your network. Use the following resources to set yourself up for success:

On Juneteenth, we strive for a future where freedom is not just symbolic, but material — reflected in opportunity, ownership, and agency. Together, we can work to make sure freelance offers that to everyone in spades.

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