Thank you, bell hooks
“Sometimes people try to destroy you, precisely because they recognize your power - not because they don’t see it, but because they see it and they don’t want it to exist.”
bell hooks was an incredibly influential African American feminist, writer, scholar, and social activist. There is nobody like this woman, and she made a lasting impact on our world. She wrote incredible texts about race, gender inequality, education, class divisions, mass media representation of marginalized communities, and the intersections between racism and sexism. Born Gloria Jean Watkins in 1952, she adopted her pen name to honor her mother's family surname - a powerful gesture of black pride.
hooks was a groundbreaking thinker whose work challenged traditional notions of gender roles, racial discrimination, intersectionality, classism, and capitalism. Her writings opened up new avenues for discourse on these topics that have shaped our understanding today. She wrote over 30 books spanning four decades that explored issues from Black feminism to interpersonal love dynamics.
Some of her best works include Ain't I A Woman?, Feminism Is For Everybody, Sisters Of The Yam (which focuses on Black women's experiences), All About Love (which explores topics such as self-love and acceptance), and Teaching To Transgress (which examines the power dynamics between teachers and students). hooks took our notions of masculinity and femininity head-on, forcing us to question the roles they play in today's world.
hooks was a true Renaissance woman: not only did she write thought-provoking books, but her activism to fight racism and police brutality was just as powerful. In 1994, she founded Cultural Criticism & Transformation—a non-profit that aims to empower disenfranchised youth through educational reform initiatives.
hooks passing in 2021 is heart wrenching, but the impact of her brave words will always echo around the world. I was privileged enough to explore and learn from her texts in countless gender studies classes – an experience that forever changed my perspective. hooks gave me an intersectional lens to understand the world through, allowing me to finally see the often-overlooked disparities and mistreatment uniquely experienced by women of color.
hooks' commitment to social and economic justice will provide an enduring legacy. Her writings and beliefs will continue to challenge us to examine the issues of sexism, racism, homophobia, classism, and ableism, which is crucial. Whether you're looking for an introduction to these topics or ways to deepen your understanding further – I highly recommend taking a look at bell hooks' work.