Ms. magazine, January 2026
On the day bell hooks became an ancestor—four years ago this Monday, Dec. 15—my beloved friend, comrade and co-conspirator Black feminist sociologist Shawn McGuffey and I were consoling one another over text when he wrote, “We should do something.”
Say less, I replied.
I had just begun a new academic appointment, and was confident that I had the capacity and the resources to pull off an event commemorating the prolific Black feminist trailblazer. Especially in light of our program’s commitment to highlighting intersectionality as foundational to Black studies and working locally to recognize Boston’s contributions to Black history, I knew such an event would align well with our vision. Though we were still in “COVID times,” I approached my dean about the possibility of putting on the symposium, “Talking Back: The Genius of bell hooks,” and thankfully, she quickly agreed and offered her full support.
