A historical analysis of the mobilisation and resistance of black women against racial, gender, and class-based oppression in the United Kingdom (UK)

The principal aim of this research is to conduct a comparative historical analysis of the ways in which blackwomen have resisted and mobilised against racial, gender, and class-based oppression in the UK and France. This study will make a valuable contribution to existing historical analyses of feminist and antiracist resistance movements in Europe, by excavating voices which would otherwise remain hidden. By analysing six resistance movements in total, this research will illustrate how black feminist movements have had to mobilise differently due to the formation of each polity. Following the second wave of women's liberation movements, the selected movements arose in the interest of collectively organising against various forms of oppression. These movements provide nuance to re-emerging debates in the present surrounding the broader context of
universalism and multiculturalism.
Furthermore, the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement across the USA and in Europe, has highlighted the need to address the complex relationship between race, gender, and class-based oppression. The black women involved in organising at the chosen sites similarly face the intersection of multiple forms of oppression due to the complex relationship between racism and sexism. This project will contribute to ongoing research concerning the reconstruction of feminist histories that have been hidden. It will develop an original comparison of political engagement in the UK and France, constructed by those who were at the centre of decolonial and intersectional feminist organising. There are potential applications of this project within broader feminist organising in the UK, as the cases prompt the question of the varying effectiveness of different resistance movements. Contemporary feminist organising through groups such as 'Sisters Uncut' and #ReclaimTheseStreets highlight the importance of collective action against sexism and gender-based oppression in the UK.
In France during the 1990s, a perceived hiatus occurred within Francophone Afro feminist movements as black women focused on mobilising against racial oppression. However, a 'renouveau' (rebirth) has become apparent since the dawn of the 21st century. Increasing tensions surrounding the implementation of 'laïcité' have reignited discussions around resistance towards the French Republic. Movements such as 'La coordination des femmes are precursors to the modern afro-feminist movement in France. It is therefore pertinent to conduct this research now following the re-emergence of black feminist resistance movements in France as the women involved in these groups constitute living archives whose experiences deserve documentation and analysis. This research has a strong temporal element, enriching prominent public debates surrounding the implementation of the 'réunion non-mixte' in France, which aims to prevent groups meeting at the exclusion of others. At the core of this argument are tensions between Republican ideals surrounding the public sphere, and the liberty of individuals to self-organise. Long-standing discussions in the UK regarding the existence of institutional racism have permeated contemporary public rhetoric about the interlocking relationship between race and gender.