The second in a series of community conversations about writer bell hooks and her work is planned at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at Carnegie Library, 708 Liberty St. It’s organized by the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County and the Christian County Literacy Council.
The conversation will center around hooks’ book, “All About Love: New Visions,” organizers said in a press release.
“Writer, cultural critic, feminist icon, and Hopkinsville native bell hooks explores what causes a polarized society and how to heal divisions,” the release states. “This New York Times best selling book offers the truth about love in an expansive context and gives inspiration to help us instill caring, compassion, and strength in all our interactions.”
A native of Hopkinsville, hooks was born Gloria Jean Watkins in 1952 and chose her pen name from her great-grandmother, Bell Blair Hooks.
“All About Love” was published in 1999 but there has been renewed interest in the book following the death of hooks in December 2021. It has been on the New York Times Best Sellers list for paperback nonfiction for 77 weeks.
hooks’ sister Gwenda Motley distributed 500 copies of “All About Love” at Hopkinsville events leading up to a celebration of life on April 2, 2022, at the Alhambra Theatre.
It’s not necessary to read the book before attending Saturday’s event. However, the book is available to purchase at the Pennyroyal Area Museum, 217 E. Ninth St., at the Hopkinsville Visitors Center, 1730 E. Ninth St., or from online booksellers.
The first community conversation about the author was in February at The Corner Coffeehouse. It focused on “Belonging: A Culture of Place.”
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
