Black feminism itself became a branch of feminism following the lack of inclusion in the original feminist movements of the early 20th century. White women neglected to include the rights of those who were not racialized as white in what they protested and fought for, leading to women of colour having to fight for these rights themselves. ​

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Black feminism is not a movement that can be easily defined, as it is a multilayered and highly debated topic among Critical Race Theorists, academics, and humans of all political and racial backgrounds. However, as discussed in lecture, the movement began with a group of black women scholars who wished to use their own personal experiences to shed light on the evident breach between white and black feminism. Black feminism found its roots in providing a safe space for black women to learn from and empower one another through promotion of dialogue and story-telling. Black feminism focuses on deconstructing and reconfiguring the structural hierarchy that currently gives more power to men. However, what makes black feminism unique from white feminist pursuits is the former's inherent intersectionality, and the desire to inspire equality and justice that begins with black women finding themselves and empowering one another before dismantling our current sexist and racist structural system.​