Best bell hooks Books to Read
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Writer Introduction
bell hooks was one of the most prolific writers, theorists,
activists, and educators of this century. She was born Gloria Jean Watkins on
September 25, 1952, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Her parents were
working-class people. She loved writers such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston
Hughes, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. At a young age, she would write for her
Sunday school magazine. Teachers would criticize Watkins (hooks) for
"talking back" and questioning her elders' beliefs.
She did not let the criticism prevent her from questioning
the status quo and the world's prevailing beliefs. Nor did she let the opinions
of others stop her from writing. Later on, she adopted the pen name "bell
hooks" in honor of her great-grandmother, Bell Blair Hooks. Bell Hooks was
also a woman who spoke her mind.
After graduating from Stanford University, she worked on her
first book. Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism.
Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism
Publishers initially declined Ain’t I a Woman
because of the inclusion of race and gender. People often rejected hooks’ writing
because she included race in feminist discussions. What also motivated her was
her relationship with a woman, in honor of bell hooks’ birthday. We will
discuss some of her books. We are starting with her first book. Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism. Initially, hooks explains that Black women were
silent about the women’s liberation movement. Largely because society often ignored
Black women’s womanhood. Below is an excerpt of the speech.
“But in the early part of American history, Black women
spoke out about racism and sexism in this country. An example she uses is Ann Cooper’s
excerpt from a speech she made during the World Congress of Representative
Women in 1893. Cooper spoke on the status of Black women:
“The higher fruits of civilization cannot be extemporized,
neither can they be developed normally in the brief space of thirty years. It
requires the long and painful growth of generations. Yet all through the
darkest period of the colored women’s oppression in this country her yet
unwritten history is full of heroic struggle, a struggle against fearful and
overwhelming odds, that often ended in a horrible death; to maintain and
protect that which woman holds dearer than life. The painful, patient, and silent
toil of mothers to gain a fee, simple title to the bodies of their daughters,
the despairing fight, as of an entrapped tigress, to keep hallowed their own
persons, would furnish material for epics. That more went down under the flood
than stemmed the current is not extraordinary. The majority of our women are
not heroines—but I do not know that a majority of any race of women are
heroines. It is enough for me to know that while in the eyes of the highest
tribunal in America she was deemed no more than chattel, an irresponsible
thing, a dull block, to be drawn hither or thither at the volition of an owner,
the Afro-American woman maintained ideals of womanhood unashamed by any ever
conceived. Resting or fermenting in untutored minds, such ideals could not
claim a hearing at the bar of the nation. The white woman could at least plead
for her own emancipation; the black women doubly enslaved, could but
suffer and struggle and be silent.”
Hooks also mentioned another woman who spoke out about the
rights of Black women in America. For the first time in American history, Black
women like Mary Church Terrell, Sojourner Truth, Anna Cooper, Amanda Berry
Smith, and other women. These women spoke about the lack of justice Black women
were facing in the United States.
Hooks discusses how Reconstruction and slavery led Black
women to share experiences. She also discussed how Black women contributed during
the Civil Rights Movement. But they often faced backlash for addressing sexism
and racism. She is clear that things have not changed, regardless of the
discussion or sisterhood. She also mentioned another woman who spoke out about
the rights of Black women in America. For the first time in American
history, Black women like Mary Church Terrell, Sojourner Truth, Anna
Cooper, Amanda Berry Smith, and other women. These women spoke about the lack
of justice Black women were facing in the United States.
“Consequently, the sisterhood we talked about has not become
a reality. And the women’s movement we envisioned would have a transformative
effect on U.S. culture has not emerged.” Towards the end of the book,
hooks urged Black women to join in the struggle against sexism. "We, Black
women who advocate feminist ideology, are pioneers. We are clearing a path for
ourselves and our sisters. We hope that as they see us reach our goal—no longer
victimized, no longer unrecognized, no longer afraid— they will take courage
and follow."
All about Love
Hooks examines what love is in all about love. In the
preface, hooks mentions when she realizes how important love is. “WHEN I WAS a
child, it was clear to me that life was not worth living if we did not know
love. I wish I could testify that I came to this awareness because of the love
I felt in my life. But it was love’s absence that let me know how much love
mattered. Towards the end of the preface, she mentions what her intentions are
in this book. To help people see how we, as a society, no longer hope for love.
This is a call to return to love. That once we love, we can speak, can “let our
hurts speak (preface page 8.”
The introduction reflects an art piece that inspired her to
believe in love. Because of controversy, the city had the artwork painted over.
She finds the artist, and they discuss what love is. She asks for a copy of the
work, which she kept as a reminder to continue. Hooks wants us to do the same, believe
in love. But try to learn about love, to understand it, and to practice it.
“Only love can heal the wounds of the past. However, the
intensity of our woundedness often leads to a closing of the heart, making it
impossible for us to give or receive the love that is given to us. To open our
hearts more fully to love’s power and grace, we must dare to acknowledge how
little we know of love in both theory and practice.”
“Fearful that believing in love’s truths and letting them
guide our lives will lead to further betrayal, we hold back from love when our
hearts are full of longing. Being loving does not mean we will not be betrayed.
Love helps us face betrayal without losing heart. And it renews our spirit so
we can love again. No matter how hard or terrible our lot in life, to choose
against lovelessness—to choose love—we can listen to the voices of hope that
speak to us, that speak to our hearts—the voices of angels. When angels speak
of love, they tell us it is only by loving that we enter an earthly paradise.
They tell us paradise is our home and love is our true destiny (bell hooks,
144).
Where to find it: Here
Appalachian Elegy
Appalachian Elegy includes poetry about Kentucky, where
hooks were born. The poems have a death, nature, winter, slavery, and a history
of Indigenous people.
Where to find it: Here
Rock my Soul
We know anyone can suffer from low self-esteem. Bell Hooks
examined why Black people have low self-esteem. She discussed and studied what contributed
to it. She also looked at how people can recover their self-esteem. One way she
mentioned is not to build our self-esteem on titles, buildings, and things.
Hooks also adds that we challenge the ones under us who put us down when we
express how we feel.
My favorite thing she said was to be around people with
healthy self-esteem. To ask them how they got that way. The last few chapters
can really help people improve their self-esteem.
Where to find it: Here or Here,
or from your Local Library
Communion
Communion by bell hooks is a thought-provoking book. Hooks
focuses not just on romantic, community love, friendship, and self-love. One
quote summarizes hooks’ key points: "Love is a combination of care,
commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect, and trust.
She examines different ideas and theories about love. She
includes notations from pop culture, psychiatry, and literature.
Where to find it: Here or from your Local Library
Feminism is for Everybody
Feminism is for Everybody is an easier read than Ain't I Woman. The reasons are that bell hooks made the language in the book easy to understand.
She did this because she wanted to bring feminism to a wider audience. The way she does this is by writing works that people understand. One that everybody could read. She uses her personal experience to help people understand.
Most people think of feminism as women being angry and bitter. They never hear about how women want rights. She also mentions that women can be sexist. This is because of paternity. She believes that if people understand it, they have to know what feminism is and why it is important.
She helps people understand it by including pop culture references. Such as when she discussed how the portrayal of mass media affects how we view women, especially feminists.
Conclusion
Hooks has written a long list of books including children's books. I included the ones I have read and found engaging. Feel free to include books you have or want to read in the comments.
