‘Becoming bell hooks’ Chronicles the Kentucky Author’s Lasting Contributions to the Feminist Movement and Her Roots to the Commonwealth

January 24, 2024 / Press Release

Becoming bell hooks, a new documentary from KET, explores the life and legacy of Kentucky-born author bell hooks, who wrote nearly 40 books and whose work at the intersection of race, class and gender serves as a lasting contribution to the feminist movement.

The one-hour film examines bell’s childhood in Hopkinsville, her return to Kentucky in the early 2000s to join the faculty at Berea College, and how her connection to Kentucky’s “hillbilly culture” informed her belief that feminism is for everybody.

The film features selections from bell’s work read by Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer and includes interviews with many of her closest friends and family, including feminist activist Gloria Steinem, Kentucky writers Crystal Wilkinson and Silas House, her younger sister Gwenda Motley and many others.

Steinhem said bell was “one of the most universal writers and universal people” who made the feminist movement more accessible to all by going beyond issues of gender, race, class and geography. “It’s hard to imagine anyone who wouldn’t be enchanted, educated and made happier by her books.”

Becoming bell hooks is a KET production, produced by Elon Justice and Sarah Moyer. It is funded in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

Becoming bell hooks
KET Tuesday, Feb. 27 • 9/8 pm
KET2 Thursday, Feb. 29 • 9/8 pm
Stream at KET.org and the PBS App

FREE PREVIEW SCREENINGS

Celebrate the Becoming bell hooks premiere at these free preview screenings:

Lexington
The Lyric Theatre
Tuesday, Feb. 20 • 6:30 pm

Louisville
The Speed Art Museum
Thursday, Feb. 22 • 7 pm

To RSVP for a screening or find more information, visit KET.org/bellhooks.

KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, where learning comes to life for more than two million people each week via television, online and mobile. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on Twitter @KET and at facebook.com/KET.