Another sad day dawns in the literary world. Celebrated author, feminist, and activist, bell hooks, passed away on Friday, December 15, 2021.

 

Here at the library, we remember her timeless contributions to the literary and activist worlds.

Ain’t I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism

A must-read for anyone interested in the nature of what it is to be a black woman, Ain’t I a Woman examines the impact of sexism on black women throughout our history. From slavery to the modern devaluation of black womanhood, bell hooks also touches on the ways that black male sexism and white feminists add to the burden they carry. It is truly a groundbreaking piece of scholarship.

 

 

 

 

Appalacian Elegy: Poetry and Place

In this poetry collection, bell hooks writes creatively about the harsh life she lived and witnessed in Kentucky during her childhood. A poignant look into the life she lived in rural Kentucky, Appalacian Elegy is also an honest examination of the marginalization and slow erasure of a culture.

 

 

 

 

 

Communion: The Female Search for Love

This book examines the unique intricacies and challenges faced by women today who are searching for love. bell hooks walks us through the journey women have walked through the various stages of feminism and how those stages have impacted their quest for true communion.

 

 

 

 

 

Killing Rage: Ending Racism

In this book, bell hooks looks at the ways in which racism and sexism are inseparable; so long as one thrives, the other thrives and to kill the one, one must kill the other. A collection of twenty-three essays that explore how women (and especially black women) have been excluded from dialogues on how to end both racism and sexism, Killing Rage: Ending Racism is a book we all need to read.

 

 

 

 

The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love

This book is based on several in-depth, intimate discussions bell hooks had with men. It challenges stereotypes of what men truly want in their pursuit of connection and invites men to reclaim their feminine side which has been so ardrently smothered by modern toxic masculinity. A book both for men seeking to find their… well, will to change, and women wanting to understand their men better, The Will to Change invites all readers into a deeper understanding of the need for healthy masculinity.