Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw
American Civil Rights Advocate
Kimberlé Crenshaw, a renowned civil rights advocate, lawyer, and scholar, best known for her work in critical race theory and for developing the concept of “intersectionality” in the late 1980s, which describes how overlapping social identities create interconnected systems of oppression.
Crenshaw introduced intersectionality in her 1989 paper, “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex,” addressing how feminist and antiracist movements overlooked the challenges faced by Black women. She expanded on this in her 1991 work, “Mapping the Margins,” focusing on identity politics and violence against women of color.
Crenshaw has taught at Columbia Law School and UCLA School of Law, significantly contributing to discussions on race, law, and social justice. Her work laid the foundation for critical race theory, which critiques how race and power are constructed in law and society.
Beyond academia, Crenshaw co-founded the African American Policy Forum (AAPF) in 1996, promoting social justice and equity. In 2014, AAPF launched the “Say Her Name” campaign to raise awareness of police violence against Black women. In 2020, she co-launched the #TruthBeTold campaign to challenge misinformation around critical race theory. She also hosts the podcast “Intersectionality Matters!” exploring race, gender, and social justice.
Crenshaw’s work has earned her several awards, including the Outstanding Scholar Award (2016) and the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lifetime Achievement Award (2021). Her advocacy continues to push for understanding intersecting identities to achieve meaningful social justice.
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