Today is International Women’s Day. This is a time when we should be looking for ways to implement ideology and action into our lives that expands our definitions of womanhood and feminism while pushing us all to aware of the work that women are doing to secure more justice. Black women, in particular, have been doing this work for generations.

This list of books, ideas, and organization offers a step in that direction.

Books

Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – What started out as a Facebook post from the author’s account has been adapted into a book on raising a feminst.

Women, Race, & Class by Angela Davis – Get into the history of women in the U.S. and a study of women’s liberation movements.

Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins – Be intentional about expanding your definition of feminism by including the experiences and ideologies of Black women.

Redefining Realness by Janet Mock – The author shares her experience as a trans woman of color growing up in America.

Ideas

Ditching White Feminism: RESIST Media offers 12 Black feminist concepts to help you move on from traditionally white feminism and into a more radical, inclusive one.

Womanism: Alice Walker is quoted as saying, “Womanist is feminist as purple is lavender”. The ideology has an emphasis on the voices and experiences of women of African descent and diaspora.

 

Organizations to (Financially!) Support

The Safety Pin Box: Centered around giving money to Black women, the Safety Pin Box is a subscription service for white people interested in allyship to put their money where their mouth is, their subscription money is then pooled and granted to Black women putting in work. You can also donate to the #BlackWomenBeing fund.

Black Girls Code: The goal of this organization is to increase the number of Black women in the STEM fields by working with Black girls ages 7-17.

International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute: The work of IBWPPI centers around advocating for Black women around the globe through action and policy, and increasing the number involved in policy work.