Bell Hooks Papers

“Once you do away with the idea of people as fixed, static entities, then you see that people can change, and there is hope” (hooks). American author, Bell Hooks, is best known for her works All About Love, Feminism Is for Everybody, and The Will to Change. In her writing, Hooks delves deep into the topic of relationships, intersectionality, and social issues surrounding race, capitalism, and gender. Bell Hooks’ written works and activism profoundly impact modern literature by providing firsthand relatability, offering realistic solutions to social issues in her writing, and establishing essential resources and motivation for diverse audiences. Bell Hooks provides a genuine experience for audiences as her insights into race, gender, and identity

Hooks took on the pseudonym from her grandmother, aiming to draw attention away from her as a person and shifting it towards her work instead (“Why Did Bell Hooks Spell Her Name in Lowercase?”). Furthermore, Hooks grew up in a small, rural segregated town with a household consisting of her father who worked as a janitor and her mother who worked at home as a housewife (“Home - bell hooks - Subject and Course Guides at University of Illinois at Chicago”). For the majority of her primary and secondary education, Hooks attended segregated schools (). However, as she entered higher education, Hooks earned the majority of her degrees—bachelors, masters, and Ph.D– in English from institutions including Stanford University, University Wisconsin-Madison, and University of California, Santa Cruz (“In Memoriam: Bell Hooks, 1952-2021”). Hooks went on to become an English and social science professor at various higher institutions. Bell Hooks has lived through big events and experienced discrimination (segregated schools). Her background impacts modern literature by providing a perspective and viewpoint from someone who has lived through this

This type of voice in writing is important in modern day literature in order to influence audiences to start critically thinking about the origins of problems. Bell Hooks’ Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center enriches modern literature by motivating readers to advocate for solidarity and embrace intersectionality in order to foster more inclusivity and effectively diminish sexist values in communities. In addition to being a writer and educator, Bell Hooks has made an impact in modern literature through her art of public speaking and establishing institutions to better serve disadvantaged communities. Hooks’ public speaking mainly took on in forms of interviews with hosts or at educational institutions and covered various topics such as family values, love, race, and the patriarchy (hooks). Bell Hook's taking on public speaking further enhances the connection between her spoken words as an author and her audience. In modern literature, this form of sharing information can aid in making messages more accessible and comprehensible for listeners. Furthermore, Hooks founded the Bell Hooks Institute at Berea