bell hooks was born into a brutal world marked by toxic masculinity at home and white supremacy outside. But she used her pen to fight back. Today, the prolific writer has published over thirty books critically exploring racism, gender, and capitalism. These are her must-read books.
Ain’t I A Woman: Black Women and Feminism
Named after Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech, “Ain’t I A Woman” examines the complexities of Black womanhood. Using the intersectionality of racism and sexism as scope hooks exposes how enslavement contributed to the dual oppression often experienced by Black women.
All About Love: New Visions
In her always-popular title, All About Love, hooks seeks to redefine society’s elusive meaning of love. In a sea of self-help books that often say love requires no definition, she urges us to define love and treat it as a verb that requires action and a commitment to spiritual growth.
We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity
Inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks’s 1958 poem “We Real Cool,” bell hooks’ 2004 essay collection dispels stereotypes about Black men. She expands on issues like the school-to-prison pipeline and how easily Black men are criminalized in this white supremacist world.
The works of bell hooks and other beloved Black writers go beyond entertainment. We must know them, study them, and use them as tools necessary to fight for Black liberation!