Bell Hooks: Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery

In memory of the recently deceased American author, professor, feminist, and social activist Bell Hooks (September 25, 1952 – December 15, 2021)

When “Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery” was originally released in 1994, it won critical praise and solidified bell hooks’ reputation as one of the leading public intellectuals of her generation. Today, the book is considered a classic in African American and feminist circles.
In “Sisters of the Yam,” hooks examines how the emotional health of black women is wounded by daily assaults of racism and sexism. Exploring such central life issues as work, beauty, trauma, addiction, eroticism and estrangement from nature, hooks shares numerous strategies for self-recovery and healing. She also shows how black women can empower themselves and effectively struggle against racism, sexism and consumer capitalism.

“Black Health and Wellness” has been selected as the theme for 2022 by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. In addition to Western medicine and the recognition of medical and health scholars, this theme also encompasses the other health and healing practices of the African Diaspora (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.).

The Black History month is celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, while in Ireland, and the United Kingdom it is observed in October.