I can be critical of Beyoncé and yet also appreciate aspects of her power and representation. I can especially critique the way white supremacist aesthetics more often than not informs her presentation of self and yet still acknowledge her beauty. Bell Hooks More Quotes by Bell Hooks More Quotes From Bell Hooks I feel sad that we have allowed these knee-jerk feminists who want to act like it's a struggle against men...but again that's the least politically developed strand of feminism. Bell Hooks feminist struggle men Feminism as a theoretical enterprise is approached differently by Black women depending on where we are. There are more reformist Black women who tend to use the phrase "Black feminism". Bell Hooks feminism phrases black Justice is possible without equality, I believe, because of compassion and understanding. If I have compassion, then if I have more than you, which is unequal, I will still do the just thing by you. Bell Hooks compassion justice believe Feminism as a political movement has to specifically address the needs of men in their struggle to revolutionize their consciousness. Bell Hooks political struggle men A very hurting thing for Black Americans - to feel that we can't love our enemies. People forget what a great tradition we have as African-Americans in the practice of forgiveness and compassion. And if we neglect that tradition, we suffer. Bell Hooks compassion hurt practice Part of why I have started writing about love is feeling that our culture is forgetting what Martin Luther King taught. We name more and more streets and schools after him but that's almost irrelevant, because what is to be remembered is that strength to love. Bell Hooks kings writing school I feel that I have many real students whom I have not met. Many are in cloisters and they never get out. Others are in prison. But in many cases they practice the teachings much better than those who meet me every day. Bell Hooks real teaching practice To me, a woman can't be a feminist just because she is a woman. She is a feminist because she begins to divest herself of sexist ways of thinking and revolutionizes her consciousness. Bell Hooks feminist way thinking My focus has always been on the work - that work being critical thinking and writing. I am always doing that. That's where I am, wherever I am. Critical thinking and writing as my heartbeat. Bell Hooks focus writing thinking If Black women stand strong and our commitment is to ending domination I know that I'm supporting Black males, Black children male and female Black elderly because the bottom line is the struggle to end domination in all its forms. Bell Hooks strong struggle children I think this is what people misunderstand about Martin Luther King saying to love your enemies. They think he was just using this silly little phrase, but what he meant was that as Black Americans we need to let our anger go, because holding on to it we hold ourselves down. We oppress ourselves by holding on to anger. Bell Hooks kings love-you silly The fact is that it was bourgeois white feminism that I was reacting against when I stood in my first women's studies classes and said, "Black women have always worked." Bell Hooks black white class One difference with the political writings, whether about feminism or class, is that the intent is to change how people think of a certain political reality; whereas with cultural criticism, the goal is to illuminate something that is already there. Bell Hooks writing reality thinking Love is first and foremost exemplified by action - by practice - not solely by feeling. Bell Hooks practice feelings love-is I think this is often misunderstood in the West, where people feel that there can be no justice unless everything is the same. This is part of why I feel we have to relearn how we think about love, because we think about love so much in terms of the self. Bell Hooks self love-is thinking The greater our commitment, the more likely our love will last. Bell Hooks our-love lasts commitment Clearly, commitment is a necessary component for creating loving relationships. Bell Hooks loving-relationships creating commitment Readers forget that one can critique yet still admire. Bell Hooks admire reader forget
