An Introduction to Black Feminism and Implications for Social Work Practice

Cost: NASW Members: $30; Non Members: $50; Retired Members: $20; Student Members: $0
Credit(s): 2 Social Justice
Date & Time: February 23, 2026, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)

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This CEU presentation examines Black feminist theory as both a mode of analysis and a practice of historical preservation, with direct applications for social work. Beginning with Sojourner Truth’s 1851 Ain’t I a Woman speech and moving through case studies of Ida B. Wells, Black women’s clubs, the Combahee River Collective, and the Movement for Black Lives, the session traces how Black women’s testimonies and organizing traditions function as living archives of resistance and liberation. Grounded in intersectional and community-based approaches, the presentation demonstrates how Black feminism sustains collective memory, resists erasure, and generates strategies for navigating systemic oppression. Participants will connect these lessons to social work competencies, including cultural humility, community engagement, and advocacy. By highlighting the intellectual and political labor of Black women as both preservation and praxis, this session equips social workers with frameworks and tools to integrate Black feminist principles into direct practice, program design, and policy work, advancing anti-oppressive practice in diverse settings. 

Learning Objectives: 

At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Define feminism and womanism.
2. Learn the progression of the Black feminist movement in relation to the broader feminist movement throughout contemporary history.
3. Identify Black feminist traditions and community-based approaches to supporting marginalized communities. 
4. Assess how Black feminist traditions may support or broaden their personal and professional approaches to social work.

Presenter: 

Imani Hutchinson, MSW, is a policy researcher and program evaluator with deep expertise in equitable evaluation, cultural humility, and social justice. As a Research Analyst she leads and supports federal and state evaluations related to TANF, SNAP, child support, and Head Start, integrating culturally responsive and anti-racist practices throughout the research process. Imani has managed qualitative studies, co-developed equity-focused evaluation tools, and guided technical assistance for human service agencies nationwide. Her work centers on elevating community voice, particularly from individuals with lived experience, to improve program effectiveness and accountability. Imani has presented on equitable evaluation at national forums and holds a Master of Social Work from Howard University with a concentration on displaced and marginalized populations.