AP African American Studies Flashcards: The Black Feminist Movement, Womanism, and Intersectionality
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What was the central argument of the Combahee River Collective Statement (1977)?
It argued that the liberation of Black women would necessitate the destruction of all systems of oppression (e.g., racism, sexism, classism), which would in turn free all members of society.
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What was the central argument of the Combahee River Collective Statement (1977)?
It argued that the liberation of Black women would necessitate the destruction of all systems of oppression (e.g., racism, sexism, classism), which would in turn free all members of society.
How does womanism address shortcomings in other social movements?
Womanism addresses both the racism present in the mainstream feminist community and the sexism found within Black communities.
Who introduced the term "intersectionality" and what is its purpose?
Scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw introduced the term as a framework to understand the distinct experiences of Black women by analyzing the interactions of their social, economic, and political identities with systems of inequality.
Define "intersectionality."
Introduced by scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality is a framework for understanding the distinct experiences of Black women through the interactions of their identities with systems of inequality and privilege.
Who coined the term "womanism" and in what decade?
Writer Alice Walker coined the term "womanist" in the 1980s.
From where did the 20th-century Black feminist movement draw its inspiration?
It drew inspiration from earlier Black women activists of the 18th and 19th centuries, such as Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman, who highlighted Black women's unique experiences of racism and sexism.
Name two 19th-century activists mentioned as inspirations for the Black feminist movement.
Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman were two 19th-century activists who resisted injustice and inspired later Black feminists.
Who were the Combahee River Collective?
They were a Boston-based, Black feminist and lesbian organization from the 1970s, named after a famous Civil War raid led by Harriet Tubman.
What is the significance of the name "Combahee River Collective"?
The name honors Harriet Tubman’s famous Combahee River raid during the Civil War, which successfully freed over 700 enslaved African Americans.
According to the Combahee River Collective, why would the liberation of Black women free all of society?
Their liberation would require the complete destruction of all interlocking systems of oppression, such as racism, sexism, and classism, which would benefit everyone.
Define "womanism."
Coined by writer Alice Walker in the 1980s, womanism builds upon Black women's activism by opposing racism in the feminist community and sexism in Black communities.