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As a student of the arts, it is necessary to develop a critical understanding of societal structures that affect access, representation, and exclusion within the arts according to gender, race, and class. This guide aims to outline resources that will help students develop a basic understanding of Black feminism while also providing a platform for the work of Black women artists.
A basic theoretical concept within Black feminism is 'Intersectionality,' [1] a term coined by scholar of critical race theory Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 that posits you cannot divorce race and class from discussions of gender equality.
Considering the sidelining of Black women and their concerns throughout the feminist movements in the U.S., [2] a need to exclusively and specifically develop a Black feminist theory for and by Black women materialized.
In this guide, you will find articles, fiction/prose/non-fiction books that will introduce you to specific theoretical concepts, writings, art and more that form the backbone of Black feminist theory. Further notes are below:
[1] "intersectionality, n.". OED Online. December 2022. Oxford University Press. https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/429843?redirectedFrom=intersectionality+& (accessed January 19, 2023).
[2] Davis, Angela Y. Women, Race & Class. 1st Vintage books ed. New York: Vintage Books, 1983.
This guide was curated and written by Barbara Calderon. Feel free to e-mail me with any other suggestions, comments, issues etc.
The Truth That Never Hurts by 
Ain't I a Woman by 
Black Feminist Thought by 
Talking Back by 
Women, Race, and Class by 
The Black Feminist Reader by 
Reading Black, Reading Feminist by The following women created important work that has shaped Black feminist thought. Each name links to an article or biography from different publishers and sources. Please check out the different sites as they all have reputable information.
Combahee River Collective -- Demita Frazier, Beverly Smith, and Barbara Smith
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Berry, Daina Ramey., and Kali Nicole. Gross. A Black Women’s History of the United States. Beacon Press, 2020.
Taylor, Keeanga-Yamahtta. How We Get Free : Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective. Chicago, Illinois: Haymarket Books, 2017.
Tinsley, Omise’eke Natasha. Beyoncé in Formation : Remixing Black Feminism. Austin: University of Texas, 2018.
Julia S. Jordan-Zachery. Shadow Bodies : Black Women, Ideology, Representation, and Politics. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 2017.
Johnson, Lakesia D. Iconic : Decoding Images of the Revolutionary Black Woman. Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2012.
Hill Collins, Patricia. Black Sexual Politics : African Americans, Gender, and the New Racism. New York: Routledge, 2004.
hooks, bell. Where We Stand : Class Matters. New York: Routledge, 2000.
This feature length documentary is available to stream via Academic Video Online
This film Born in Flames (1983) directed by Lizzie Borden is available to stream on Kanopy.
This documentary from 2021 is streaming on Swank.
A People's Journey African American Women and the Struggle for Equality published by the National Museum of African American History & Culture August 29, 2017
The Urgency of Intersectionality by Kimberlé Crenshaw from TEDWomen 2016
Black Female Voices: Who is Listening - A public dialogue between bell hooks + Melissa Harris-Perry recorded at the New School November 8, 2013
There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé by 
Lemonade by 
We Should All Be Feminists by 
Bad Feminist by 
Citizen by 
Sister Outsider by 
Morning Haiku by 
Letter to My Daughter by 
The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni, 1968-1998 by 
