Remembering Bell Hooks: A Trailblazing Black Feminist Scholar and Activist

Bell Hooks, the groundbreaking Black feminist scholar, educator, and activist, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 69. Hooks, known for her extensive work on how race, gender, class, and politics intersect, profoundly shaped academic and popular debates over the past 40 years. Her friend and longtime colleague Beverly Guy-Sheftall, professor of women’s studies at Spelman College, joins us to reflect on Hooks’ life and legacy, describing her as “a person who would sit with young people and help them understand this world in which we live, full of all kinds of domination.”

Bell Hooks and the Fight Against “Imperialist White Supremacist Heteropatriarchy”

Hooks worked within the traditions of intersectionality and Black radical feminism, addressing the interlocking systems of oppression in her writings and activism. One of her most famous critiques was of what she termed “imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy,” a phrase that has resonated with many in their fight for equality and justice. Hooks believed that by naming these systems, we could better work toward eradicating them.

Bell Hooks’ Enduring Legacy

Born Gloria Jean Watkins, Bell Hooks chose her pen name to honor her great-grandmother, Bell Blair Hooks. She intentionally wrote it in lowercase letters to emphasize that the focus should be on her ideas rather than herself. Her literary contributions include more than 40 books spanning essays, poetry, children’s literature, and more. Her 1981 book Ain’t I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism, named after the iconic speech by Sojourner Truth, remains a cornerstone in feminist literature.

The Power of Love in the Struggle for Justice

In her 2000 book All About Love: New Visions, Hooks argued that love is essential to the struggle for self-determination and justice. She famously wrote, “Love allows us to survive whole.” For Hooks, love was an emotional sentiment and a radical political act that could heal communities and transform society.

A Life Dedicated to Teaching and Community

Hooks spent much of her life as an educator, teaching at numerous institutions, including Yale University, Oberlin College, and Berea College, where she founded the Bell Hooks Institute. Beverly Guy-Sheftall emphasizes that Hooks saw herself as a teacher first and foremost, describing her as someone who “believed that her audience was broader than the academy” and wanted to reach “regular people, young boys, and children.”

Bell Hooks on Theory and Praxis

In a 1999 interview, Hooks discussed her approach to education and her belief in uniting theory with practice. She drew inspiration from educators like Paulo Freire, author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed, and spoke about the importance of aligning one’s beliefs with daily actions. “You can teach by being in the world as much as you can by the books you write,” Hooks said, highlighting the unity between theory and praxis that shaped her intellectual and activist work.

Confronting Systems of Domination

Throughout her career, Hooks remained committed to confronting systems of domination and oppression. Her critiques of “imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy” have been echoed by scholars and activists, including Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term “intersectionality.” Hooks consistently named these oppressive systems in her work, believing their eradication required confrontation.

The Radical Act of Self-Love

One of Hooks’ most revolutionary ideas was that self-love, particularly for Black people, was radical. She wanted Black children, especially young Black boys and girls, to love themselves in a society that often devalued them. This message was central to her acclaimed children’s book Skin Again, beautifully illustrated by Chris Raschka. The book reads, “The skin I’m in is just a covering. It cannot tell my story. If you want to know who I am, you have to come inside and open your heart way wide.”

A Lifelong Advocate for Radical Change

As Beverly Guy-Sheftall reflected on her close friend’s legacy, she noted that Hooks was both “hard-hitting and gentle,” unrelenting in her critiques of injustice but always driven by a deep commitment to truth and love. Through her teachings, writings, and public speaking, bell hooks shaped how generations of feminists, activists, and scholars understood the world and their place in it.

A Lasting Influence on Feminism and Social Justice

As we reflect on Bell Hooks’ passing, her influence on feminism, education, and social justice remains undeniable. Her work continues to inspire activists, writers, and educators worldwide. As Beverly Guy-Sheftall reminds us, Hooks’ unwavering commitment to teaching and uplifting others is a legacy that will live on through the many lives she touched.

Bell Hooks herself said: “We chart our lives by everything we remember, from the mundane moment to the majestic. We know ourselves through the art and act of remembering.”