On 15 December 2021, we lost prolific Black feminist author and activist bell hooks. In loving memory of bell hooks, we have pulled together a reading list based on her work spanning the decades since she started writing in the 1980s. Rest in power, bell.
All About Love - 2000
A book that seeks to understand the concept of love and apply it to social movements and divisions, to show a new way forward for society, and for us all in our own relationships (not just romantic). All About Love is an incredibly inspiring and warming account of love and activism.
Feminism is for Everybody - 2000
Somehow, this incredible book was also released in the year 2000 — amongst even more work by bell! Feminism is for Everybody outlines the case for feminism as an all-of-society, intersectional approach to equity, critiquing the history of the movement as insular and limited. It’s a must-read for anyone in feminist activism and spaces.
The Will To Change - 2004
In 2021 we often hear the term “toxic masculinity”. bell hooks’ 2004 treatise on masculinity provides a full, and empathetic, analysis of the concept of masculinity and how we can collectively address the harms that have come about as a result of patriarchal systems. This is a positive and empowering read for all genders.
Ain’t I a Woman - 1981
One of bell hooks’ foundational texts, Ain’t I a Woman talks to the experience of being a black woman in America. It’s considered a feminist classic, and is particularly recommended for Pākehā women seeking to understand what it is like to live under multiple oppressions (gender and race).
Killing Rage: Ending Racism - 1995
Prescient in its relevance (still, sadly) today, Killing Rage is a collection of essays looking at institutional racism in the United States. The essays cover a range of angles and topics, including classic bell hooks feminist analysis and intersectional race analysis. The book talks about the law, society and everything in between.