This is the last in a 2015 series of interviews with philosophers discussing race. This week’s conversation features the renowned scholar, critic, and public intellectual Bell Hooks, a distinguished Appalachian Studies professor and resident at Berea College. Hooks has authored many influential works, including Writing Beyond Race: Living Theory and Practice. The interview was conducted by George Yancy, a professor of philosophy at Emory University.

Exploring the “Imperialist White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy”

George Yancy: Over the years, you’ve often used the phrase “imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy” to describe the power structure of society. Why connect these terms instead of focusing on one in isolation?

Bell Hooks: We can’t fully understand the nature of domination without recognizing how these systems interconnect. This phrase has always been important to me because it doesn’t prioritize one form of oppression over another. For years, within the feminist movement, people argued that gender was the only issue that mattered, or others said that race was the most important. But for me, this phrase is a reminder of a global context—of how class, empire, capitalism, racism, and patriarchy all work together as an interlocking system of domination.

The Role of Humor in Activism

G.Y.: I’ve noticed you often use humor when speaking. What role does humor play in your work?

b.h.: We can’t have a meaningful revolution without humor. When political movements lack humor, they tend to fail. Humor brings balance, helping us navigate diversity and difference while building community. I’ve had many conversations with Cornel West, and we were both deeply serious yet found joyful humor in our dialogue. It’s a holy calling to be able to critique and still find humor together. It’s a miracle when we see African American men and women speaking together, critiquing one another, and laughing.

Feminism: A Movement of Self-Interrogation

G.Y.: How has your view of feminism evolved?

b.h.: My commitment to feminism remains strong because it’s a movement that embraces self-interrogation. When women of color began challenging white women to confront racial differences, many white women rose to the challenge, which shifted the direction of feminist thought. This openness to change continues to amaze me. In contrast, the left and radical Black men have not embraced this kind of self-reflection. Feminism made that paradigm shift, though not without resistance.

Combating White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy

G.Y.: What can we do in our daily lives to challenge the power of white supremacist capitalist patriarchy?

b.h.I live in a small, predominantly white town in the Bible Belt, and I often ask myself, “What would Martin Luther King want me to do today?” I think of it as building a beloved community in small and large ways. I push myself to interact with people I may not feel comfortable with, reminding myself that the struggle for racial justice is about humanization. This commitment to relate to others with empathy and openness is a form of resistance to racial hatred.

Intellectual Work as a Form of Privilege

G.Y.: You describe intellectual work as a kind of privilege. Can you elaborate?

b.h.: Yes, intellectual work is a privilege, especially for Black women. I wake up early each day, begin with prayers and meditation, and dedicate hours to reading and writing. That is a luxury—a privilege to think critically and then act upon what I know. I wouldn’t be here without the civil rights struggles that allowed me this opportunity.

Theory as a Source of Healing

G.Y.: You’ve said that theory can be a source of healing. Can you explain that?

b.h.: Theory helps us make sense of the world. As a gifted child in a dysfunctional family, I used critical thinking to understand why things were the way they were. I believe children are natural critical thinkers until we silence them. Theory became a way to process pain and confusion, and I’ve seen my work help others heal. Every day, someone tells me how my writing has changed their life, which is an incredible gift.

Resisting Narcissism as a Public Intellectual

G.Y.: How do you avoid narcissism, a temptation many well-known intellectuals face?

b.h.: First, I live in a small town where most people don’t know who bell hooks are. I walk around as Gloria Jean, a person grounded in humility. My mother always told me, “You’re brilliant, but you’re not better than anyone else,” which kept me respectful of others’ knowledge. My daily life is about working with the work—engaging with readers who interact deeply with my writings.

Teaching as a Sacrament of Love

G.Y.: How do you connect teaching with your concept of love?

b.h.: I believe the only way out of domination is love. Love is about connection and humanization, which extends to the classroom. Teaching is a sacrament of love, though I’m semi-retired now. At Berea College, where our students come from Appalachia and don’t pay tuition, I try to encourage giving and receiving love in education.

Healing Through Love and Soul Work

G.Y.: You’ve discussed “soul healing” for Black men. What does that look like, and what role do Black women play in nurturing it?

b.h.: In my book We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity, I use the metaphor of Isis and Osiris—where Isis gathers the scattered parts of Osiris and puts him back together. This metaphor represents the healing that Black men and women can achieve together. We need to bond through our shared histories and stories, creating spaces to nurture one another.

Spirituality and Feminism

G.Y.: How do your Buddhist and feminist practices reinforce each other?

b.h.: Both Buddhism and feminism challenge me to practice self-interrogation. Buddhism emphasizes right action and mindfulness, while feminism encourages the discipline of questioning the world around me. Together, they ground me in ethical and spiritual values. This grounding has been essential in helping me navigate both personal struggles and the challenges my students face.

This interview was conducted by email and edited for clarity. Previous interviews in this series can be found online.

George Yancy is a professor of philosophy at Emory University. He has authored and co-edited numerous books, including Black Bodies, White Gazes, and Pursuing Trayvon Martin.