Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name “bell hooks,” will soon be commemorated at Hopkinsville Community College (HCC). Plans are well underway to erect a feature in the beloved Round Table Literary Park, culminating in a campus celebration on September 25 — what would have been the influential author, professor, feminist, and social activist’s 70th birthday.
A Tribute to a Local Literary Icon
HCC President and CEO Dr. Alissa Young highlighted Hopkinsville’s unique position as the only city in the U.S. with a literary park. She also noted that Christian County, where Bell Hooks grew up, was the foundation of her early exploration into literature and the broader world of ideas.
The History of Round Table Literary Park
With its deep roots in the community, Round Table Literary Park was founded in 1974 by former HCC English professor Frances Thomas. With the help of her students and local supporters, the park became a reality. Nestled within a grove of trees, the park features a Graeco-Roman theater, a sculpture of Melpomene (the muse of tragedy), King Arthur’s legendary “Sword in the Stone,” a massive 22,000-pound replica of King Arthur’s Round Table with 24 seats, and a replica of the Tholos of Delphi.
While the park has suffered damage from vandalism, including the theft of the Mask of Tragedy from Melpomene’s hand, efforts are underway to restore and enhance the park’s features.
New Additions and Technological Enhancements
Through an established endowment, the Thomas family continues to support the literary park. Funds from the endowment will help repair existing damage and add new technological enhancements to the park.
HCC Foundation Executive Director Yvette Eastham shared that the park will soon introduce code-badging. These badges will allow visitors to use their smartphones to access detailed information about the park’s features, such as King Arthur, Merlin, Excalibur, Melpomene, and other mythological elements.
Eastham also emphasized that the park is a serene place for reflection, learning, and reading and that the addition in honor of bell hooks will be the first new feature since 1994.
A Family’s Tribute to Bell Hooks
Gwenda Watkins Motley, a Lifelong Hopkinsville resident, and Bell Hooks’ younger sister expressed her excitement about the tribute.
“Our sister, Gloria, known to the world as bell hooks, was larger than life in every field of endeavor she touched,” she wrote. “The family is deeply honored by HCC’s plan to pay tribute to her work in Round Table Literary Park, and we look forward to this installation inspiring future generations to dare to question, dream, and do.”
Fundraising Efforts
The HCC Foundation has set a preliminary fundraising goal of $35,000 to support the commemorative installation and refurbishments. Donations are currently being accepted to ensure the vision for this tribute to bell hooks becomes a reality.
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