Who Is Bell hooks? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on September 25, 1952, bell hooks was an influential American author, cultural critic, feminist theorist, and social activist. With her unique perspective on race, gender, and media, she became a pivotal figure in contemporary feminism and social justice discussions. Throughout her life, hooks authored numerous seminal books, essays, and articles, with a focus on intersectionality and the importance of love, community, and understanding. She passed away in December 2021, but her work continues to inspire.
At the time of her passing, bell hooks was 69 years old. While she is no longer with us, her teachings are more relevant than ever, and her insights are increasingly studied in academic settings and social movements.
| Occupation | Philosophers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 25, 1952 |
| Age | 69 Years |
| Birth Place | Hopkinsville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 15 December, 2021 |
| Died Place | Berea, Kentucky, U.S. |
Popularity
Bell hooks's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Although bell hooks was not often focused on her physical appearance in her writings, available sources indicate that she had a height of approximately 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm). Her weight varied throughout her life, like many people's, but specific details are not publicly documented. Hooks emphasized the importance of body positivity and self-acceptance, primarily in the context of how societal standards can negatively impact individuals.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
bell hooks was deeply connected to her family and often spoke about the centrality of love, community, and familial ties in her work. While intimate details about her personal relationships were seldom disclosed, hooks did highlight the significance of relationships in her writings, framing them as essential to personal and social transformation. Following her passing, there have been no public confirmations regarding past romantic partnerships, as she chose to keep specific aspects of her personal life private.
Watkins was one of six children born to Rosa Bell Watkins (née Oldham) and Veodis Watkins. Her father worked as a janitor and her mother worked as a maid in the homes of white families.
In her memoir Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood (1996), Watkins would write of her "struggle to create self and identity" while growing up in "a rich magical world of southern black culture that was sometimes paradisiacal and at other times terrifying".
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of her passing in 2021, bell hooks had a reported net worth ranging between $1 million to $5 million. Her financial success stemmed from her prolific writing career, which included over 30 published works, speaking engagements, and academic positions at prestigious institutions. Her impact on feminism and cultural criticism has made her one of the most quoted authors in the field, ensuring that her work continues to generate attention and income even after her death.
Career, Business and Investments
bell hooks began her writing career in the late 1970s, and her first book, "Ain't I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism," released in 1981, gained significant critical acclaim and established her as a voice of change. Throughout the years, she explored themes of race, gender, capitalism, and love, ultimately producing works that challenged societal norms and proposed pathways toward social justice.
In addition to her writing career, bell hooks was a co-founder of the Institute for Women, Race, and Class, which provided a platform for discussing intersectional issues. Her investments in education and community-based projects have contributed significantly towards social causes that reflect her values.
She began her academic career in 1976 teaching English and ethnic studies at the University of Southern California. She later taught at several institutions including Stanford University, Yale University, New College of Florida, and The City College of New York, before joining Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, in 2004.
In 2014, hooks also founded the bell hooks Institute at Berea College. Her pen name was borrowed from her maternal great-grandmother, Bell Blair Hooks.
Social Network
Even though bell hooks passed away, her legacy lives on through various social media platforms and websites dedicated to her work. You can find her thought-provoking insights and quotes frequently shared on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, where educators, activists, and fans honor her memory. Various organizations continue to promote her ideology of love, solidarity, and empowerment.
In the early 1980s and 1990s, hooks taught at several post-secondary institutions, including the University of California, Santa Cruz, San Francisco State University, Yale (1985 to 1988, as assistant professor of African and Afro-American studies and English), Oberlin College (1988 to 1994, as associate professor of American literature and women's
studies), and, beginning in 1994, as distinguished professor of English at City College of New York.
Education
bell hooks was educated at Stanford University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She continued her academic pursuits at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, obtaining her Master of Arts degree in English Literature. Later, she achieved her Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her educational background deeply informed her work, as she focused on making complex topics accessible and relevant to broader audiences.
Gloria Jean Watkins (September 25, 1952 – December 15, 2021), better known by her pen name bell hooks (stylized in lowercase), was an American author, theorist, educator, and social critic who was a Distinguished Professor in Residence at Berea College. She was best known for her writings on race, feminism, and class.
She used the lower-case spelling of her name to decenter herself and draw attention to her work instead. The focus of hooks' writing was to explore the intersectionality of race, capitalism, and gender, and what she described as their ability to produce and perpetuate systems of oppression and class domination.
She published around 40 books, including works that ranged from essays, poetry, and children's books. She published numerous scholarly articles, appeared in documentary films, and participated in public lectures. Her work addressed love, race, social class, gender, art, history, sexuality, mass media, and feminism.
