A black feminist statement by The Combahee River Collective (1977) portray the process

of development of the black feminism movement, starting in the 1970s a time when
other important social movements had already started a process of revolution an advocacy
for social justice: the movement for liberation and the womens movement , as a
consequence of the lack of opportunities and limited participation caused by hierarchical
structures and systems dominated by black men or white woman, which did not allow
black women to be considered as political subjects for specific rights and reparations into
society.

Thus, black feminism movement, as defined in this statement, was based on the need for
creating an autonomous space that introduced new elements into the analysis and
awareness of the many situations of violence and constant oppressions that affected black
women, but also respected their own language, culture and forms of expression. Black
feminism was, then, a socialist movement that believed in the redistribution of the goods
and recognized the concept of class and its implications in society; a movement that work
alongside with other forms of feminism, highlighting the specific needs of black women.
One of the many difficulties that black women had to face in the process of construction
of the black feminism movement was the lack of privilege, which became a major
obstacle in seek for their political power, representation and visibility. This, as well as
restricted access to academic resources, became major difficulties in the process of
engagement among the community, but also challenged them into the creation of
alternative spaces and communication channels, that contributed to the democratization
of knowledge within black feminists.

The complexity of the black feminist movement relies in its multidimensionality. Black
feminism approaches race, class, gender and sexuality incorporating lesbian identity as
a strategic and political category of analysis -, among others. In a time when
intersectionality was not a common approach, black feminism made a transcendental
contribution becoming visible what had been resting at the bottom of social revolutionary
movements, breaking with the traditional structures and gender roles and challenging
them significantly to establish a wider view of women, not as a unique and homogeneous
group, but as a very diverse collective that faced and still faces - complex and different
situations that are still relevant to the analysis of the situation of women to this days.

1. Beal, Frances M. "Double Jeopardy: To Be Black and Female." In Black

Womens Manifesto., published by Third World Womens Alliance, 19-34.
August 29, 1999. Accessed September 08, 2016. http://www.hartfordhwp.com/archives/45a/196.html.
2. Davis, Angela Y. Women, Race & Class. New York: Vintage Books, 1983.
3. Kim, Seung-kyung Mccann, Carole. Feminist Theory Reader. : Taylor and
Francis, 56 2013. Accessed September 10, 2016. ProQuest Ebook Central.