Shemaless - Barbara Smith

She established the field of Black women's studies in the U.S. and published seminal essays such as "Toward a Black Feminist Criticism" (1977). Later Life and Recognition

She argued that feminism must include all women, stating, "If feminism does not include all women, it is not feminism so much as female self-aggrandizement".

She edited the groundbreaking Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology (1983), which integrated Black lesbian voices into the broader feminist dialogue. Contributions to Theory barbara smith shemaless

In 2005, she was elected to the Albany Common Council in New York, where she focused on preventing youth violence.

Smith co-founded this Boston-based Black feminist group, which released a landmark statement defining the unique position of Black women in political struggles. She established the field of Black women's studies in the U

She has received numerous awards, including the Stonewall Award for service to the LGBTQ+ community and a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

Alongside Audre Lorde, she founded this press to ensure that women of color had a platform to publish their work, which was often ignored by mainstream publishers. She edited the groundbreaking Home Girls: A Black

For over fifty years, Barbara Smith has been a critical voice against the "interlocking oppressions" of racism, sexism, and homophobia.