Purdue News

November 9, 2001 Purdue Black Cultural Center launches reading series NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Author bell hooks, whose book is being discussed, spells her name with all lowercase letters. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The BCC Read Series of the Black Cultural Center library will begin with a discussion of "Wounds of Passion: A Writing Life" by bell hooks. Communications student, library aide and aspiring writer, L. Victoria Johnson, will lead the discussion, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 in the BCC library. The discussion is free and open to the public. BCC librarian Dorothy Washington says that in "Wounds of Passion," hooks speaks frankly about the intimate life experiences that helped shape her as a writer. "The book provides valuable insight of hooks coming of age as a writer, as well as a cultural and feminist critic, on her own terms," Washington says. "Daring to tell it all, hooks writes about the unspeakable as an act of resistance that challenges preconceived notions of black women writers that perpetuate racial and gender domination of their writing life." In October, Johnson traveled with other Haraka Writers members to the Gwendolyn Brooks Center Black Writers Conference at which hooks was a keynote speaker. "It was very rewarding to observe Victoria enthusiastically question hooks in preparation for her discussion on 'Wounds', "Washington says. "All are welcome to join us as we explore a writer's life while discussing 'Wounds of Passion.'" CONTACT: Dorothy Washington, (765) 494-3093, dwashin2@purdue.edu. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page