AIN’T I A WOMAN

It is hard to put into a short paragraph honoring the enormous legacy of bell hooks. The trailblazing feminist, professor, author and social activist passed away at her home at the age of 69 this week. A pioneer who fearlessly challenged feminism’s white, middle-class worldview and addressed the deep intersections of race, gender, class, sexuality and geography, bell hooks' influential work inspired and transformed the way many understand the world. Many Black women and scholars talk about how much bell hooks’ words resonated with them, changed their understanding of themselves and their work. bell also spoke so eloquently on reimagining love, and how it is far broader than romantic sentiment—inspiring her students and readers to love immensely and think deeply. This weekend, I’ll be re-reading AIN’T I A WOMAN and ALL ABOUT LOVE, two of her books that I read as a freshman in college when I had so little understanding of my own womanhood, critical understanding of feminism at large, and the larger concept of love. The accessibility of hooks’ words left such a strong impact on me, and if you haven’t had the chance to read her work, there is no better time to start than now! 

—Mimi Li, Development Assistant