The celebrated author died following an undisclosed illness
Acclaimed author and activist bell hooks has passed away at age 69.
hooks, born Gloria Jean Watkins, died on Dec. 15 at her home in Berea, Kentucky, following an undisclosed illness, according to Berea College, where hooks worked as a professor, NBC News reports.
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“bell came into the life of many Bereans in 2004 to help the College get closer to its Great Commitments, particularly the Fifth Great Commitment focused on the kinship of all people and interracial education; the Sixth Great Commitment dedicated to gender equality; and the Eighth Great Commitment centered on service to Appalachia,” the school wrote in a statement.
“In 2017, bell dedicated her papers to Berea College, ensuring that future generations of Bereans will know her work and the impact she had on the intersections of race, gender, place, class and sexuality.”
The author’s family also confirmed her death to USA TODAY.
“We sadly confirm that our sister Gloria Jean Watkins (bell hooks) passed away at her home in Berea KY in the early morning hour today. She chose cremation so a celebration of life service will be at a later time,” her family said in a statement Wednesday. The celebrated author, feminist, and activist was reportedly surrounded by her close friends and family when she died.
hooks was born on Sept. 25, 1952 in Hopkinsville, Ky., where she attended segregated schools before enrolling at Stanford University in California, The Lexington Herald Ledger reports. She earned a Bachelor’s degree at Stanford, a Master’s from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a doctorate in literature at the University of California at Santa Cruz.
