When bell hooks passed away on December 15, 2021, a flood of tributes appeared across social media. Fans, scholars, and admirers offered condolences while efforts were made to ensure she was correctly memorialized—starting with the correct spelling of her name in lowercase letters.

Born Gloria Jean Watkins, Bell Hooks adopted her unique pseudonym for two important reasons. First, she wanted to honor her great-grandmother, who shared the name (though capitalized). Second, she aimed to shift the focus away from her own identity and onto her writing and ideas. Ironically, the spelling of her name became a topic of public interest in its own right.

The Early Life of Gloria Jean Watkins

Gloria Jean Watkins was born in 1952 into a working-class family in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Her father worked as a janitor, and she grew up attending racially segregated schools. Even from a young age, Watkins had a talent for poetry, and she often read her work for her church congregation.

Her academic journey took her to Stanford University, where she graduated in 1973. She then earned a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Wisconsin and her Ph.D. from the University of California in 1983. Her frustration with the lack of attention to race and gender in academic circles inspired her first published work, And There We Wept, a poetry collection.

1981 she released Ain’t I a Woman, perhaps her most influential scholarly work. This book established her as a respected intellectual and a leading voice in the public discourse on race, gender, and power.

A Trailblazing Career in Teaching and Writing

Bell Hooks taught at prestigious institutions, including Yale, Oberlin, and the City College of New York, throughout her career. Eventually, she returned to her home state of Kentucky to teach at Berea College, where she held the position of Distinguished Professor in Residence.

Bell Hooks passed away on December 15, 2021, after a long battle with renal failure. The New York Times, in its obituary, noted her remarkable range of interests. In more than 30 books, she wrote about topics as varied as literary criticism, children’s fiction, self-help, memoirs, and poetry. Her works addressed education, racism, sexism, American history, and themes of love and friendship.

Reflections from Writers and Teachers

Following her passing, The Guardian featured tributes from prominent writers. Margaret Atwood, the celebrated author of over 50 books, reflected on Bell Hooks’ courage and intelligence, saying, “In finding her own words and power, she inspired countless others to do the same.”

In her book Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom, Hooks encouraged both students and teachers to challenge the limitations of race, gender, and class, emphasizing that education is a path to freedom. Retired teacher Zoe VanSandt, who writes for BookWomen magazine, shared how Hooks influenced her approach to creating an inclusive classroom environment.

The Warmth Behind the Words

Although Bell Hooks addressed serious and often fiery subjects in her writing and activism, she is remembered for her gentle voice and warmth. Despite the intensity of her ideas, she maintained an aura of acceptance and calm.

For those new to Bell Hooks’ work, Oprah Daily suggests a Top Ten list of essential readings:

Top Ten Works by bell hooks

  1. The Will to Change (2004)
  2. Communion (2002)
  3. All About Love: New Visions (2005)
  4. Feminism is for Everybody (2000)
  5. Where We Stand (2000)
  6. Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood (1996)
  7. Killing Rage (1995)
  8. Teaching to Transgress (1994)
  9. Feminist Theory (1984)
  10. Ain’t I a Woman (1981)

A Lasting Message

One of Bell Hooks’ most memorable quotes reminds us of her unwavering advocacy for women writers:

“No black woman writer in this culture can write ‘too much.’ Indeed, no woman writer can write ‘too much’ … No woman has ever written enough.”

Bell Hooks also observed that the feminist movement, though rooted in the desire to eliminate sexist oppression, operates within a larger cultural system that encourages individualism over collective change. Her message continues to challenge us to seek liberation not only for ourselves but also for the world around us.