BMRC COLLECTIONS HIGHLIGHT: National Alliance of Black Feminists
Founded in 1976, the National Alliance of Black Feminists (NABF) sought full equality for African-American women in the United States. Open to “any black woman interested in advancing the cause of Black feminism”, the National Alliance of Black Feminists (NABF) was a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to achieving full equality for Black women in America. Formed in the summer of 1975, the NABF organization originally started in 1974 as the Chicago Chapter of the New York based National Black Feminists Organization (NBFO).
When NBFO dissolved in 1975, Brenda Eichelberger, then president of the Chicago chapter, decided to respond to an increase in local, national and international Black feminist struggle by organizing the National Alliance of Black Feminists, serving as its first executive director. The organization opened its national offices at 202 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois in May, 1976. The group held a three day conference, "A Meeting of the Minds: A National Conference for, by and about Black Women" in Chicago in 1977. The NABF put forth a Black Women's Bill of Rights that included the non-racist and non-sexist portrayal of African-American women in advertising, television, film, radio, newspapers, magazines, books, and all other mass media as a fundamental right. The NABF also sought to improve African-American women's education, social status, economic circumstances, and professional prospects.
NABF collections are held at two BMRC member institutions.
* University of Illinois at Chicago, Special Collections (Richard J. Daley Library)
*The Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection, Woodson Regional Library, Chicago
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