Barbara Smith Biography
Early Life and Education
Barbara Smith was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 16, 1946, to Hilda Beall Smith and Benjamin Smith. She matured together with her twin sibling, Beverly Smith. She was profoundly affected by her parents' progressive political concepts, as they were deeply involved in the American Civil Rights Movement.
In 1965, Smith went to Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts on a scholarship and made a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1969. Later on, she got her master's degree in Literature from the University of Pittsburgh in 1971 and ended up being an instructor at the City College of New York.
Activist and Academic Career
In the early 1970s, Smith started her activist profession by signing up with the National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO) in New York City. Throughout her time with NBFO, she campaigned against racism, sexism, and discrimination faced by Black women.
In the late 1970s, she co-founded Combahee River Collective, a Black feminist cumulative. The group dealt with various issues, including reproductive rights, bigotry, domestic violence, and the portrayal of Black women in media. Their most significant contribution to feminist theory was the Combahee River Collective Statement which highlights intersectionality and strengthened the term "identity politics".
In 1981, Smith co-founded the Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, the very first US publisher to specifically concentrate on the works of women of color. Journalism released esteemed authors such as
Audre Lorde, Cherríe Moraga, and Gloria Anzaldúa.
As an educator, Smith taught in numerous institutions, including the University of Massachusetts Boston, Albany's School of Social Welfare, and the College of Saint Rose, where she likewise co-founded the Women's Studies program.
Politician and Community Leader
Barbara Smith functioned as a member of the Albany Common Council from 2006 to 2013, representing the Fourth Ward. She concentrated on problems of public security, community policing, and budget-friendly housing. Smith also arranged numerous area clean-ups and supported small businesses in the location.
Some People Around Her
Throughout her activist and academic profession, Smith had the opportunity to work with prominent people like:
1.
Audre Lorde : A popular Black feminist and author whom Smith thought about a mentor and whose works were released by Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press.
2. Cherríe Moraga : A Chicana author and cultural activist whose works were also published by the Press.
3. Demita Frazier, Beverly Smith, and Sheila Humphrey : Co-founders of the Combahee River Collective with Barbara Smith, they all contributed significantly to the development of Black feminist theory.
4.
Bell Hooks : A Black feminist scholar and popular author, her work has actually been affected by the advocacy of Barbara Smith and the Combahee River Collective.
Awards and Recognitions
Barbara Smith has received a number of awards and recognitions for her long-lasting commitment to advocacy, education, and politics. Some of these include:
1. The Stonewall Award for Service to the Queer/Lesbian Community (1994)
2. The Lambda Literary Award for Publisher's Service (1995)
3. The
Susan B. Anthony "Courageous" Award (2006)
4. The Feminist Majority Foundation Pioneer Award (2008)
5. The
Martin Luther King Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Justice (2012)
Conclusion
Barbara Smith's commitment to eliminating for the rights of marginalized groups, particularly Black ladies, has been acknowledged and admired by generations of activists and scholars. As a co-founder of Combahee River Collective and Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, she has actually considerably added to the development of intersectional feminist theory and the representation of females of color in literary works. Her commitment to social justice has made a lasting effect on neighborhoods, academia, and politics.
Our collection contains 7 quotes who is written / told by Barbara.
Related authors: Martin Luther King Jr. (Minister), Bell Hooks (Critic), Susan B. Anthony (Activist), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), Ice T (Musician), Audre Lorde (Poet)
