OBITUARY:
Feminist, academic and social activist bell hooks has died aged 69.
The author, born as Gloria Jean Watkins, was famed for her pioneering work on capitalism, race and gender. She passed away early this morning, surrounded by her family and friends, the family announced in a statement.
“The family of Gloria Jean Watkins is deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved sister on December 15, 2021,” it reads. “The family honoured her request to transition at home with family and friends by her side.
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“Her works now include 40 books now published in 15 different languages, making her an international favourite loved by many… we are proud to call her a sister, friend, confidant and influencer.
“Contributions and memorials can be made to the Christian County Literacy Council via PayPal, which promotes reading for children, or Museums of Historic Hopkinsville Christian County, where a biographical exhibit is on display.”
bell hooks, a name borrowed from the author’s maternal great-grandmother, is also noted for being styled in the lower case. She said she wrote the name without capital letters “to distinguish [herself from] her great-grandmother.”
She said that her unconventional lowercasing of her name signifies what is most that her work is more important than her being, calling it “substance of books, not who I am”.
