A History of Black American Feminism

Abstract

We begin with an examination of the history of Black American feminism, a movement which preceded Black women’s involvement in formal American politics. Feminism, both in this section and in the text as a whole, is considered broadly, inclusive both of intentionally organized groups of women, such as the National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO) and the Combahee River Collective, as well as acts of naming, claiming, and entering taken consciously by Black women across American history. For the sake of organization and manageability, the author has imposed a temporal boundary on the consideration of both types of Black American feminism, and opens this chapter by establishing the larger sociocultural and political context of the American landscape, which is critical for understanding what stimulants precipitated Black women feminists’ organization and action.