bell hooks, born Gloria Jean Watkins, was an influential American author, theorist, educator, and social critic. Recognized as a Distinguished Professor in Residence at Berea College, hooks made significant contributions to the discourse on race, feminism, and class.

Her prolific body of work includes approximately 40 books that span essays, poetry, and children's literature, as well as numerous scholarly articles. hooks utilized various platforms such as documentary films and public lectures to disseminate her ideas. Central to her writing was the examination of intersectionality between race, capitalism, and gender, and their role in fostering systems of oppression and class domination.

hooks embarked on her academic career in 1976, teaching English and ethnic studies at the University of Southern California. Over the years, she held positions at prestigious institutions like Stanford University, Yale University, New College of Florida, and The City College of New York. In 2004, she joined Berea College in Berea, Kentucky.

In 2014, the bell hooks Institute was established at Berea College, cementing her legacy and continuing her mission of examining and addressing societal issues surrounding love, race, class, gender, art, history, sexuality, mass media, and feminism.