GBH Openvault

Basic Black; Conversation With Bell Hooks

04/05/2001

Repackaged Master

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Series

Basic Black

Program

Conversation With Bell Hooks

Program Number

3113

Series Description

THe series was formerly known as Say Brother. Series title change as of 1/8/1998. This series is black produced and is one of public television's longest-running series that is rooted in and reflects the culture, concerns, achievements and history of people of African descent. Also includes controversial issues, African American artists, and events of special interest to the African American community.

Series release date: 1/8/1998

Program Description

Feminist author and social critic, bell hooks sits down with Basic Black's Darren Duarte to talk about race, love, and everything in between. Known for such works as, Ain't I a Woman: Black Woman and Feminism and Killing Rage: Ending Racism, hooks is the prolific author of more than twenty books and articles. hooks is currently touring with her new book, Salvation and teaches at the City College of New York.

Darren Duarte, host of Basic Black, recently had a lively discussion with acclaimed visionary, writer, intellectual, feminist theorist and cultural critic, bell hooks. "I am happy to be here because I am Basic Black," proclaimed hooks.

Known for such works as Ain't I a Woman: Black Woman and Feminism and Killing Rage: Ending Racism, hooks is the prolific author of over twenty books and articles. hooks, who is currently touring with her most recent book, Salvation, took time to visit with Duarte and the Boston community. In Salvation, the second book in a trilogy, she explores the issue of self-love, examining why many of us have not overcome internalized racial hatred. She takes a critical look at the place of love in black family life across class; at the unloving images of blackness we see in mass media daily; and the images that bombard us with the message that black people are not worthy. "I try to talk about survival strategies that we developed during slavery, and after slavery, …you couldn't just be truthful all the time within this context of white supremacy and racism," declared hooks.

"I'm obsessing about love…I'm called to be a high priestess of love," said hooks. She went on to share with Duarte why she feels love is essential to our nation's progress. "It is the ultimate force that can heal and renew," she said.

"I was intrigued talking with bell hooks because she reveals how passionate she is about the subjects she tackles, and she speaks openly about the personal connection to her work," said host Darren Duarte. "This interview actually made me look inward at my approach to love. We should appreciate the people who are important in our lives."

hooks is a professor of English at City College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She was also professor of English at Yale University and Oberlin College. Dr. hooks finished her undergraduate work at Stanford University and completed her doctorate at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Duration

00:24:40

Asset Type

Broadcast program

Media Type

Video

Genres

Magazine

Topics

Social Issues

Race and Ethnicity

Citation

Chicago: “Basic Black; Conversation With Bell Hooks,” 04/05/2001, GBH Archives, accessed December 3, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_F8FC47D4961740E885B7FE015E3987FD.

MLA: “Basic Black; Conversation With Bell Hooks.” 04/05/2001. GBH Archives. Web. December 3, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_F8FC47D4961740E885B7FE015E3987FD>.

APA: Basic Black; Conversation With Bell Hooks. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_F8FC47D4961740E885B7FE015E3987FD