Race and Gender

In Wounds of Passion, hooks often focuses on how her white professors and classmates cannot see that race and gender are interconnected, and that "there is now world where just gender matters" (206). After taking many women's studies classes, I like many of you, have learned about how race, gender, class, and sexual orientation are connected oppressions. But, its really hard to read about hooks' own experience with being a black woman in academia, where no one will even acknowledge her blackness. I didn't realize that these connected oppressions were not acknowledged for so long within the academic world. In this way, I admire hooks for being so outspoken and truthful during her oral tests to become a Phd and in writing this book. It would obviously have been easier to go along with what the majority wanted. I would like to think that I would do the same thing if I was in her position, and not be afraid to speak out about my racial or ethnic identity. Would you be as brave as hooks and risk losing your job or promotion by speakin your mind about the oppressions you see and experience around you?