Collection: Black women and the feminist movement

Screentshot of the black women in the women's movement article

Our feature article Black Women in the Women’s Movement links to many fantastic resources in our collection

The Black Women’s Collective – our Page has a quick introduction to the organization and several interesting documents

thumbnail of Open Letter to March 8th Coalition (Toronto) – 1989

Black women’s Collective – Open Letter to March 8th Coalition – seeking a broader representation of women in the coalition

thumbnail of OUR LIVES

Our Lives – the Magazine produced by the Black Women’s Collective.

Thumbnail of Congress of Black Women of Canada

The Congress of Black Women of Canada – Our page on this organization has a detailed article, written by women from the congress, about this history and activism of this organization

thumbnail of Congress of Black Women of Canada Information Booklet

CBWC Information Booklet – An even more detailed look at the Congress of Black Women of Canada organization – including information about executive members and areas of policy.

thumbnail of Congress of Black Women of Canada Information Booklet (1989)

And a later information booklet shows how the CBWC has developed as an organization.

thumbnail of Correspondence on Anti-Lesbophobia Sub-Committee (1995)

Anti-lesbophobia correspondence between members of the Congress of Black Women 

thumbnail of Just Like Me – Description of Toronto Anti-Racist Child Care Project (1989)

Just Like Me – A detailed project description for an anti-racist film aimed at childcare workers. This film project sponsored by the Toronto Chapter of CBWC arose from the realization that there was a dearth of training materials and resources for use in Early Childhood Education programs on the issues of racism, including its impact on the development of young children and strategies for addressing it.

thumbnail of Statement of Women’s Coalition Against Racism & Police Violence-December 1989Toronto

Statement of the Women’s Coalition Against Racism and Police Violence – black women were involved in leading the fight for justice for black people killed or injured by police

The poster for annual IWD march and rally focussed on the intersecting struggles against racism and sexism.

Some amazing posters for events and actions on the struggles against racism and sexism.

Still from Sisters in the Struggle

Film: Sisters in the Struggle – A film with interviews/commentary from black women about working to end sexism and racism and the dynamics and connections between the two isms.

  • Michael Wade Lawson, a 17 year old Black man was shot and killed by Peel police in 1988. The two cops charged were later acquitted, which caused growing community protest over the pattern of racist police brutality and the failure to condemn and clean up racism within the police forces. In Toronto, the Black Women's Collective and the Congress of Black Women of Canada were actively involved in campaigning against racist and anti-black violence. Other feminist and social justice groups also supported this work.
  • This button shows solidarity for the fight against racism, linking struggles around the world from Toronto to South Africa. In Toronto, International Women's Day 1986 also focused on the connections, organizing around the slogan, "Women Say No to Racism - From Toronto to South Africa'.
  • In 1987, the March 8th Coalition chose Fighting Racism and Sexism Together as the central theme for International Women's Day in Toronto.
  • "Sisters in Struggle - Building a Global Movement" was a Black History Month event organized by the Black Women's Collective and sponsored by a wide range of organizations. The featured keynote speaker for the February 1988 forum was Angela Davis. Panellists included Winnie Ng, Marlene Green, Carmencita Hernandez, and Susan Numzana.

Amazing buttons marking various campaigns of black women in the feminist movement, including: Sisters in Struggle: Building a Global Movement, Stop Racism at home and abroad, Justice for Michael Wade Lawson, Fighting Racism from Toronto to Soweto, Rosemary Brown NDP Leader, IWD Fighting Racism and Sexism Together and more on our buttons page