Zarina Muhammad & Lola Olufemi on bell hooks’s Art on My Mind

'Art on My Mind' is a collection of essays and interviews by Bell Hooks that explores the intersection of art, culture, and identity, particularly focusing on the work of Black artists. Hooks delves into the visual politics surrounding art, examining how race, gender, and class influence the creation, interpretation, and reception of artistic expression. She challenges traditional notions of aesthetics and encourages a more inclusive and critical approach to understanding art's role in shaping social consciousness. Through insightful analysis and personal reflections, Hooks highlights the power of art to challenge oppressive systems and promote liberation. The book is a call to engage with art as a tool for social change, urging viewers to reconsider their perspectives and biases.

In this book, bell hooks explores the nature of feminism and its positive promise to eliminate sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. She addresses issues such as reproductive rights, sexual violence, race, class, and work, and challenges patriarchal systems and binary thinking. hooks argues for the importance of intersectionality, comprehensive sex education, and men's participation in dismantling patriarchal structures. The book presents a compelling case for the universality of feminism, advocating for an inclusive movement that caters to all genders, races, and social classes.