Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw’s Influential Career 2023 MasterClass

Cover Civil Rights Scholar Kimberle Crenshaw Speaks February 28 2019 Gonzaga University (570x522)

Table of Contents

• Early Life
• What is Intersectionality?
• What is Black Feminism?
• What is the Impact of Crenshaw's Work?
• What are Crenshaw's Current Projects?

Early Life

Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw was born on June 14, 1959, in Canton, Ohio. She was raised in a working-class family and attended public schools. Crenshaw's parents were both civil rights activists, and she grew up with a strong sense of social justice.

Crenshaw attended Cornell University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in government and Africana studies. She then went on to attend Harvard Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1984.

What is Intersectionality?

Intersectionality is a term coined by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw in 1989. It describes the way that different forms of oppression intersect and interact with each other. For example, a black woman may experience discrimination based on both her race and gender, and these forms of discrimination may interact in ways that are unique to her experience.

Intersectionality is an important concept because it recognizes that people can experience multiple forms of oppression at the same time, and that these forms of oppression are interconnected. It also recognizes that traditional forms of activism and social justice may not be effective for addressing these complex forms of oppression.

What is Black Feminism?

Black feminism is a movement that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. It seeks to address the unique experiences of black women and the ways in which they have been marginalized within both the feminist movement and the black liberation movement.

Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw's work has been instrumental in the development of black feminist theory. Her concept of intersectionality has helped to highlight the ways in which black women experience both racism and sexism, and the ways in which these forms of oppression interact with each other.

What is the Impact of Crenshaw's Work?

Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw's work has had a significant impact on the fields of law, feminism, and social justice. Her concept of intersectionality has helped to shape the way that we think about and address issues of inequality and oppression.

Crenshaw's work has been particularly influential in the legal field. Her scholarship on intersectionality has helped to shape the way that courts and legal scholars approach issues of discrimination. Her work has also been influential in the development of affirmative action policies and other measures aimed at addressing inequality.

What are Crenshaw's Current Projects?

Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw is currently a professor of law at UCLA and Columbia Law School. She is also the founder and executive director of the African American Policy Forum (AAPF), a think tank that focuses on issues of gender and racial justice.

Crenshaw is currently working on several projects related to intersectionality and social justice. She is co-authoring a book on intersectionality and the law, and is also working on a project examining the impact of intersectionality on social movements.

Conclusion

Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw's work has been instrumental in the development of intersectionality and black feminist theory. Her scholarship has helped to shape the way that we think about and address issues of inequality and oppression. Crenshaw's work has had a significant impact on the legal field, and her contributions to social justice and activism continue to shape the way that we approach these issues today.