"[3] Another main factor that ultimately led to the development of Kitchen Table was the racism within the mainstream women's movement during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
"[5] In an interview with Joseph F. Beam in Blacklight Magazine, Lorde spoke to the need to "develop those structures (like Kitchen Table) that will present and circulate our culture.
"[7] As a result of Lorde's suggestion, Smith assembled a group for a meeting on Halloween weekend in Boston, the home city of the press in its first year.
Smith, Lorde, Cherríe Moraga, Hattie Gossett, Helena Byard, Susan Yung, Ana Oliveira, Rosío Alvarez, Alma Gomez and Leota Lone Dog are all considered co-founders of the organization.
The group decided that they would publish books aimed at promoting the writing of women of color of all racial/ethnic heritages, national origins, ages, socioeconomic classes, and sexual orientations.
[5] "Until this society completely transforms itself, and justice for all people prevails," wrote Barbara Smith, "there will undoubtedly be a need for Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press.
"[5] In addition to publishing books, Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press was an activist and advocacy organization devoted to the liberation struggles of all oppressed people.
[10] In de la tierra's Latina lesbian magazine, Esto no tiene nombre, she published the works of many female writers of color like Cherríe Moraga, Achy Obejas, and Luz María Umpierre.
"[5] Kitchen Table decided to use traditional graphics from indigenous African, Asian, Latino and Indian cultures in the cover and text illustrations of their books.
Kitchen Table has inspired other feminist publishing companies, such as BrokenBeautiful Press, founded by the academic and writer Alexis Pauline Gumbs in 2012.