Article Citation Information: ​Golden, Thelma. ​Black Male: Representations of Masculinity in
Contemporary American Art.​ New York: Whitney Museum of American Art, 1994.
 

1. Who is bell hooks (will require a bit of outside sleuthing)? 

bell hooks is a pseudonym used by ​Gloria Jean Watkins. Originally her maternal grandmother’s 
name ( Bell Blair Hook), Gloria Jean Watkins, aka bell hooks adopted this name in hope to 
elevate her work for its contents and not for her personal recognition. As an american author, 
feminisit, and activist bell hooks has made a name for herself by examining, challenging, and 
illustrating black and feminist thoeries   

2. What are body politics?  

Body politics encompass the socio-political position that bodies, especially non-white bodies, 
possess in contemporary society. Historically;Racism, Sexisim and personal identity have 
contributed to the theoretical gaps and therefore easy dehumanization of black and brown 
bodies by colonial ideologies. Body politics are important to acknowledge as they construct 
the foundation from which stereotypes, interpersonal relationships and the consolidation of 
social activism grow.  

3. What is intersectional feminism?  

Intersectional feminism is contemprory attempt to merge overlapping and seperate of feminist 

identities and principles into an expasive collective. The Women’s suffrage movements of the 
twenties and first waves of feminism were composed almost exclusively by white women. The 
uniformity created ideological frameworks which navigated a white world however as black, 
brown, and queer bodies began to contribute to and reform the meaning of feminism these 
frameworks began to fracture. Third wave feminism took to itself to explore identity politics and 
approach feminism not from a linear perspective and instead a multilayered one.