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bell hooks visits SCSU
By Drew Sandholm
Published:
Thursday, April 3, 2003
Media Credit: Blair Schlichte
Activist and author bell hooks spoke to students, part of Women�s History Month, Monday in Ritsche Auditorium.
Feminine activist, author and intellectual bell hooks spoke before a near capacity crowd with her speech coined, "Ending Domination: Feminist Futures." The event kicked off just after 7 p.m. in Stewart Hall's Ritsche Auditorium.
Upon taking the stage, hooks was welcomed by a warm reception, which included a standing ovation.
"I thank you all for having me here tonight," hooks said. "I was speaking before to students on campus and am glad to be here."
hooks began her speech by quickly tackling the issue at hand, the future of feminism. hooks stated that she feels America today doesn't understand feminism. Attributing mass media as the instigators of the common negative stereotypes associated with the movement, she called the current public viewpoint unfortunate. True feminism, hooks explained, is quite different from that which the public commonly defines it as.
"People look at me when I say I am a feminist and ask, 'Well, are you a lesbian?" she said. "Not all feminists are lesbians, just as all lesbians are not feminists."
hooks continued by stressing that black women are a part of feminism too.
She criticized the United States military action on Iraq and its proclamation to liberate the Iraqi women residing there. Even though she acknowledged the injustices those women do endure, she called the reasoning a poor excuse. hooks questioned a government of people who want to liberate one group of women, while women living in America are still being abused through domestic violence, lack of equity in the workforce, rape and class privilege.
hooks continued with a call for a greater future for the feminist movement. She criticized women who do not support the feminist movement and stated that everyone benefits from feminism.
Increased activism, according to hooks, would catalyze the growth of the movement and restore its true ideas free from the tyranny of media stereotypes.
hooks concluded her hour-long speech by stressing the importance of peace. She made reference to the work of humanitarian Martin Luther King, Jr. and called for increased effort to emulate his message.
Many audience members took the opportunity to interact with hooks in the question-and-answer session that followed hooks' presentation. hooks took their questions and provided for lengthy and in-depth answers.
Presented by the SCSU Women's Center, hooks' arrival was highly anticipated. This was the last event for the organization to wrap up Women's History Month. With more than 500 people in attendance for the show, the Women's Center considers it a success.
"It was absolutely a success," said Niloufer Merchant, interim director of the Women's Center and program coordinator. "She was a speaker we've been wanting to have for a long time."
As evidenced in the many standing ovations during the course of the speech, the audience seemed to enjoy the evening. hooks covered a wide variety of topics and, in doing so, touched a variety of people.
"I think it went very well," said St. Cloud resident Robyn Madson. "I think that (hooks' presentation) will increase the publicity and visibility of the discussed issues."
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