Final answer:
The Combahee River Collective's 'A Black Feminist Statement' challenged the feminist movement to embrace intersectionality and stressed the importance of including diverse perspectives, particularly those of black women and queer individuals, to achieve true liberation. They coined the term 'identity politics' and called for a comprehensive approach to battling oppression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The A Black Feminist Statement by the Combahee River Collective is a seminal text in the field of intersectional feminism and social justice. Released in 1977, this manifesto emerged from the group's experiences of feeling marginalized within both the Civil Rights Movement and the mainstream feminist movement. The Collective, consisting mainly of African American women many of whom identified as queer, addressed the unique challenges faced by black women.
They articulated that the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and class created a multifaceted system of oppression that needed to be fought on all fronts.
Their statement challenged the feminist movement to be more inclusive and considerate of these intersections. By coining the term identity politics, the Combahee River Collective encouraged the feminist movement to embrace diversity and recognize that liberation could not be achieved without acknowledging the different dimensions of identity affecting women's experiences.
They insisted on a strategy that included voices across race, sexual orientation, social class, and other factors, moving away from a single-issue approach to feminism.