bell hooks and Kevin Powell: Black Masculinity, Threat or Threatened I The New School

Join bell hooks and Kevin Powell in a discussion about black masculinity in popular culture today presented by Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts (www.newschool....) at The New School (www.newschool.....
Kevin Powell is an activist, public speaker and author of 12 books, including his new title The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey into Manhood.
bell hooks is an author, activist, feminist and scholar-in-residence at The New School. This fall is her fifth and final week-long visit in a three-year residency.
Location:
Wollman Hall, Eugene Lang College
65 West 11th Street
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

[@soulfuzz368]

Once I realized that the “system” is merely a mirror staring back at you, these conversations (and critical theory in general) become crystal clear. bell hooks is fascinating.

[@RDH1986]

Why was his introduction 8 minutes long 🙄

[@rachaeluwadaclifford4566]

+Richard Hutchinson I skipped right past it smh

[@Chris-vi9nh]

for ease of others, here's a link to 8:00

[@CourageousKitchen]

"White racist cruelty thrives on secrecy." - Bell Hooks Read enough youtube comments and you know that to be true.

[@hthtv3440]

Y? Cause 'secrets' are ruled by #Scorpio... and that energy still, yes, STILL, has #Pluto attached to it. Is it any wonder they tried to get the masses to NOW accept that Pluto is *not* a planet?? They really don't want him considered 'in mind' anymore... nah, they want to have 'that great power' at their disposal ONLY. r e l a x monitors: All Conjecture...theory, right? Right. :-)

[@noless]

+Bangkok Fatty Um there is lots of hate towards white people in youtube comment sections. Watched any buzzfeed videos lately?

[@mjwa2444]

I am sorry and with respect for the contribition that Bell Hooks has made to the project of liberation, the question remains in my mind: Why did she talk over Mr. Powell in a discussion of his book? She has already liberated countless minds and set on course countless others. Why didn't she love him publicly by listening to him publicly? I found that very contradictory to what she was talking about. I was looking for his insights, from his experience of black masculinity, to inform myself and my students. I've already read her books and listened to her speak on numerous occasions He had to ask for her permission to speak! It made me feel very frustrated to wait to hear his words. I kept thinking of my students... I am a white teacher in a small town with a couple of mixed heritage students who are discriminated against because of their dark skin tone and black hair. These are isolated black identified male students in an rural town. These students are wrestling with what in means to be black with the same media images as the rest of the world. I wanted to at least provide them with a connection to a role model. If I showed them this video, I guarantee they would not feel like a safe space exists for a highly self-aware black man's experience. No matter who contributed, his awareness was won by his own efforts! Let him have that and let the world receive what he is generously sharing!!

[@TilTheBreakADawn]

MJ Wa I, too, struggled with interaction between bell and Kevin here. I think Kevin engaged in a highly deferential posture for three reasons. 1. He relates to her as his mentor who is also an elder. 2. He is practitioner of nonviolence, including (from what I could see here) nonviolent communication. Interestingly, bell, as we know, engages Buddhist principles of relating, but I've seen her discard or at least revise those principles when engaging in these kinds of one-on-one conversations. 3. Because he (and obviously she) is aware of his past patriarchy in relation to women and his every-existing social location as a heterosexual African American man. And I think she may have luxuriated in the moment of actually having such a person listen to her. I compared this talk to her ones with Cornel West (she did the same thing, sans the maternal role) and Melissa Harris Perry. With Perry, bell talked a lot but not over her. Perry also did not have the burden of being concerned that she could/would dominate bell and it was a very equal exchange. Anyhow, it was clear that Kevin was aware of her overtalking him and he just demurred by "asking if it was ok for him to respond". I don't think he was ready, at least in that space, to challenge her.

[@riverruns477]

First, as a scholar MJ Wa-your contribution and insight are admirable. Those male students in your care have an ally. I was wondering what their parents are doing with the knowledge that their heirs environment is not ideal-although safe. The world will most likely so aptly frustrate them too. What can be done (as I'm sure you know) is to explain that the world is not a perfect place, so we must do are generous best to remain in charge of OUR feelings. The world owes respect, not "fairness." Again, what the parents can do will surely manifest into something more profound than petty discrimination against the "dark skin tone and black hair"=beauty!

[@soulfuzz368]

But she is so humble, y’know no capital letters and all...

[@leedclinton5026]

She didn't hold a gun to his head. He's a simp...weak. Plain and simple.

[@lloplop]

god that white dude opening is SO awkward! wow. what was that.

[@MarwansMindOverMatterTV]

are there any studies of the patriarchy internalized by women? also, how do you feel about "black men are the white people to black people"?

[@lb8012]

Insightful conversation. Much gratitude.

[@DeMonSpencer]

I loved TA-NEHISI COATES book Between The World and Me. I don't get the notion that we have to judge something by looking at the auidence who embraces it. I thought it was honest and sincere. I bought a copy for both of my nephews. Coates has a unique voice and I really like the way he has shunned fame. I'm not sure I'd be strong enough to turn down opportunities to make a whole lot of money and have my face on tv everywhere. I don't expect everyone to share my opinion of his book, I just didn't quite get the critique I guess. I wonder if the book hadn't been so successful would that change the way some are feeling about it. Just got Kevin's book but I haven't started it yet. I've heard a lot of positive reviews so I'm looking forward to reading it.

[@leedclinton5026]

Bell is a feminist. Her words hold zero weight.

[@Readdoctor1]

Powerful truths spoken here.

[@mistymojones9280]

I love love love the conversation is finally being had!!

[@myasalaam8948]

this was pure trash..it just show that these Euro-Americans here are stuck in "Slave-Master Mode" "smh"

[@duchess56me-tf7fx]

You two gave a good talk. Love your books Ms hooks...will be reading Kevin soon. Thanks!

[@martinalbert1910]

I needed to listen to this

[@PeaceProfit]

In a world that celebrates and thrives upon the natural beauty, harmony and evolution of diversity, mankind struggles to overcome NORMAL which is the self imposed social disorder he suffers from... L.O.V.E.*Rulz

[@PeaceProfit]

One can NEVER heal the future, without FIRST healing the past... L.O.V.E.*Rulz

[@deedyga]

GR8 VIDEO. VERY DEEP.

[@imaginationman]

What does she mean by a black writer needs to be true to their audience? EVERY artist needs to be true to themselves first. She implies that Coates is speaking in a voice that he wouldn't actually use with his own son. She has no way of possibly knowing that. If that's his voice, it's a voice his son would recognize, understand and expect. Anything different would be contrived and disingenuous.

[@DeMonSpencer]

I didn't understand that either. I feel like there's some kind of back story to it that we aren't aware of.

[@fjdhaan]

What she means is that she felt he didn't write it to teach his son, but to show onlookers that he's teaching his son the 'right' (i.e., WASP-approved) lessons. With 'being true to your audience', she means explaining what you want to say in a way that will make sense to the person you're speaking with (which is not to say talking down to them). Now, you can argue over whether Coates wrote it to his son to read once he reaches adulthood, but why the hell would you do that, when your son is right in front of you, and wanting your guidance now, rather than in 10 years time?

[@mythicalnonfictionalport5200]

DeMon Spencer he was deeply inspired by the style of Baldwin hence why he wrote in prose and stylistically. Bell don't always be on it, but BIG love to her.

[@DeMonSpencer]

Foppe de Haan The book was written to his son but that doesn't mean his son would need to read this book to get his father's guidance. As you said, he has his father right in front of him. The premise (as I understood it) was what would I want my son to know about the world if I weren't here to teach it to him. That concept wasn't meant to be taken literally. It's a writing technique that has been around for a very long time. I'm not sure how anyone would be confused by it.

[@cardion411]

Very powerful.

[@RB-oz1mm]

Wow. One of the best forums!

[@malikahm4053]

He said that he felt comfy at the gym? Now he doesn't?

[@emekaamerican863]

Vic Mensa power 105 interview brought me here

[@sarawoldeslassie1176]

Does anybody know the name of the poet that Kevin Powell quoted? The one that goes "Knock Knock - who's there..."?

[@malikahm4053]

Spking truth to power

[@victoriakawesa3558]

Fantastic 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿❤🙏🏿👍🏿

[@powitskim]

M Lamar! 1:10:09

[@googlereview]

what is the unhooked book? having trouble finding it....david wolverson?

[@mrron9637]

She misspoke. Unhooked - Frederick Woolverton

[@HDliketheTV]

Who is shorty that left out around 34:30

[@moise6413]

IF YOU DON'T take something to SHE says to hearth you're really... I don't know where your head is at!! Period. Those two movies Warroom and NWA movies aren't really for blacks. period

[@ShikagoMale1]

Kevin Powell, goin' through the Lefty motions for that check...

[@CarlyonProduction]

Which lefty motions?

[@410BK]

ShikagoMale1 yeah, I peeped it too. the integration schemes won't save us.

[@TilTheBreakADawn]

+Brian A So what other moves should/can he make? Is he, a brother who is unwilling to believe that women, specifically black women are secondary, going to be welcome in what part of the "black" community? The Church/NOI? Nope. The Pan-Africanist? Nope. The Rastas? Nope. Where he gon go? And do exactly what?

[@emilyeerosew]

Did you see him cry? He's speaking from the heart about his personal experience, but ok

[@lukeb8045]

I'm still waiting for the day when bell hooks will be talking about her own privilege.

[@HS-wo8ti]

'This Schizophrenia'? Schizophrenia isn't about having 2 personalities, that's bi polar

[@HS-wo8ti]

+Kawaii Gardiner he's wrong saying Schizophrenia is multiple personalities though

[@Neen88]

+Harry Simpson I thought bi polar was more about extreme highs and lows, having a problem bouncing from happiness to depression and so fourth not necessarily different personalities? I don't know though...

[@HS-wo8ti]

Yeah it is tbf, I didn't know enough about Bi polar when i wrote this, but it isn't Schizophrenia either

[@elleb8206]

+Harry Simpson Schizophrenia has been loosely referred to as split personality (the inability to reconcile reality with delusion). Bi-polar disorder is a mood disorder formerly known as Manic-Depression. Neither of these is Multiple Personality Disorder (a defensive behavior used to protect the ego against relentless abuse by assuming changing identities),

[@crysdee461]

Bipolar relates to moods

[@bannedbygoogle]

Tikkun olam, 8 min of jewish revolutionary thought, welcome to the revolution. Black lives manipulated by our masters.

[@anarkistkrysis8568]

This is pure idiocy.

[@myasalaam8948]

Is this what people discuss in these so called schools about African Americans ..what a waste (#spiritofDumb) "smh"

[@killmonger2553]

Mya Salaam thank you. I am as disappointed as you are. More liberal feminist trash and a proxy Black male to propel it