The Combahee River Collective’s “A Black Feminist Statement” from 1977

A Black Feminist Statement (1977) from the Combahee River Collective is a foundational text for Black feminism. The Combahee River Collective was a consciousness-raising group with members like Audre Lorde and Barbara Smith and other Black lesbian feminists. Up until this point, a lot of Black feminists still focused most, if not all, of their energy on fighting the oppression Black men faced, often leaving Black women’s needs unmet. The Combahee River Collective called for a refocusing of Black feminists. The coined the term “identity politics” which is not the same was what we commonly think of today. “Identity politics” refers to the idea that Black women would produce the most radical politics by working to end their own oppression, rather than trying to end the oppression of Black men or white women. It’s based in the idea that liberating Black women would result in the liberation of all other people, as Black women occupied the lowest rung of the social ladder. At the time this was a really profound proposal. This perspective definitely has merit today and I really appreciate the efforts and work of the women in the Combahee River Collective.

I also appreciate how the Collective refused to endorse Lesbian separatism, as it was a very one dimensional plan that only considered the perspective of white Lesbians. Even today, I find that plans of separatism can be very dangerous and often counterproductive to the ultimate goal of liberation. Without addressing all systems of oppression that permeate our minds and interpersonal relationships, it is too easy to reify these dangerous ideas within a new group.

Combahee River Collective. “Combahee River Collective Statement.” 1977.