6 Black Women Led Groups to Support this Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month is a time that we honor women activists and organizers of all experiences that played a role in the fight for justice, freedom and equity. Is it no secret that the role that black women played in shaping our country is often left out of the common dialogue. With that, is it important to honor the contributions of black women then and now. One way to do that is by direct giving to black women center organizations. Below you will find a list of groups.
The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) was founded in 1996 by Black Feminist Scholar Dr. Kimbelee Crenshaw and Dr.Luke Charles Harris. AAPF is an innovative think tank that connects academics, activists, and policy-makers to promote efforts to dismantle structural inequality. Dr. Crenshaw coined the term Intersectionality, which is an analytical framework for understanding how aspects of a person’s social and political identities combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege. This is important because the organization builds on this work by hosting events like the Critical Race Theory Summer School, Her Dream Deferred Status of Black Women week of action, and leads Black Girl Matter, which focuses on Black Girl School pushout issues. AAPF is also home to the #SayHerName Campaign, which brings awareness to the often invisible names and stories of Black women and girls who have been victimized by racist police violence, and provides support to their families. To support the work of the African American Policy Forum, please click here.
Higher Heights for America is the largest political home for black women! For almost ten years, their work has been exclusively dedicated to harnessing their power to expand Black women’s elected representation and voting participation, and advance progressive policies. They are building the political power and leadership of Black women from the voting booth to elected office and creating the environment for Black women to run, win and lead! Whether it is text banking, door knocking, or producing historic research on black women in public office, Higher Heights is leading the charge to make sure that black women’s political power is seen, felt and honored! To support their work, please click here.
The Black Women Studies Association is a professional organization dedicated to scholars engaged in research about Black women. This organization is for scholars at all stages of their careers, whether they be undergraduate students, graduate students, independent scholars, adjunct professors, postdoctoral fellows, professors, and scholars with alternative academic careers. They are committed to diasporic and intersectional analyses of black women and the conditions related to Black women. They do this by hosting events, hosting blogs, posting job announcements and sharing calls for papers. They also award scholarly articles and papers that focus on the conditions of Black Women, Femmes and Girls. To support the Black Women’s Studies Association, please click here.
Black Girls Vote is a nonpartisan organization designed to represent the concerns and interests of Black women. They are invested in ensuring that Black women are empowered to advance education, economic development, quality health care, and voting rights. Black Girls Vote, along with strategic partners, created the first Get Out the Vote Box aimed to increase voter participation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.The organization also co-wrote the report titled: Black Women Did That: The Need to Invest in the Civic Health of Black Women. This one of a kind report examines Black women’s impact and potential beyond elections, and calls for urgent investment in their civic health. To support Black Girls Vote, please click here.
The Black Girl Tribe, also known as TRIBE, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the betterment of Black Girls. They do this by advocating for change and increasing access to sustainable resources for Black Girls to not only survive Blackgirlhood, but to thrive in it! HERE. TRIBE hosts the largest black girl holistic empowerment conference called FORMATION Con. The participants are encouraged to explore identity mapping, self-expression, social and political activism, and advocacy, reproductive health and wellness, community development, and current real-world issues affecting the lives of Black Girls and their communities. TRIBE also has numerous other programs, include #BlackGirlsJustDoIt, a collaboration with Nike, The Ujima Collective and the Ruby Bridges Literacy Project! To support the Black Girl Tribe, please click here.
Black Women Radicals is a Black feminist advocacy organization dedicated to uplifting Black women and gender expansive people’s radical political activism. Rooted in intersectional and transnational feminisms and Womanisms, they are committed to empowering Black women and gender expansive activists and centering their political, intellectual, and cultural contributions to the field of Black Politics across time, space, and place in Africa and in the African Diaspora. BWR recently launched a campaign to start the School for Black Feminist Politics, which aims to goal is to illuminate what has often been obscured and neglected in regards to our Black feminist histories, political memories, and productions, so that our past, present, and future understandings of Black feminist thought and behavior can be understood more fully and completely. In addition to the school, black women radical hosts numerous political education sessions with leaders all over the world on topics like caribbean genders and sexuality, spirituality and fashion, and the importance of archiving. To support Black Women Radicals, please click here.
As we reflect on the role that women play in our nation’s history, this is a great time to support organizations that honor the social and political freedoms fought for black women, femmes and girls and continue that work as well.
