In Asheville, the Tao of bell and Majora

Social activist bell hooks and Majora Carter. Photo: Urban News

By Sharon L. Shervington

The new book “belonging” by the prolific writer bell hooks [hooks does not capitalize her name] was the catalyst behind two public appearances she made in Asheville the weekend of June 27. That night, the downtown bookstore Malaprops closed its doors by 7:15 p.m. to avoid creating a fire hazard.

That is not so surprising when you consider how deeply hooks has impacted at least two generations as a writer, activist, feminist, advocate, poet, and woman of letters. hooks, the doyenne of African American letters, was joined by Majora Carter, who has become a leading light in the sustainability and green jobs movements. The pair spoke again at a Burton Street Community Center Peace Garden event the next morning.

Carter and hooks were introduced by Mayor Terry Bellamy, who spoke on
the center’s accomplishments, and Sara Day Evans, a longtime friend of
hooks’s who invited the women to Asheville. They were welcomed by
several of Asheville’s leading literary lights: poet Glennis Redmond,
resident and poet Lucille Ray, and performance artist Dewayne Barton,
who is also a member of Green Opportunities.

Ms. hooks began by reading one of her children’s books, about boys and
emotional acceptance. She spoke to her conviction that contradictory
messages about feelings and a visceral effort to keep boys from feeling
are obstacles to their successfully navigating away from such social
ills as drug abuse and prison, which disproportionately affect young
men of color. Hooks, who has taught at Yale, Oberlin, and elsewhere, is
now a professor at Berea College in Kentucky. She noted that her move
there brought her back close to the land. “When I moved there, I said
to myself: I could die here.” She hastened to reassure the audience
that she meant that in a positive sense.

Ms. Carter, a native of the South Bronx in New York City, discussed
environmental racism and her profound belief that the
interconnectedness of both nature and society require that we all work
together toward common goals, or risk destruction. Her company, “Majora
Carter Consulting,” works with a wide range of architects and urban
planners to make certain that basic assets like parks are accessible to
all. She laughingly told of being in a meeting with about 20
scientists, only three of them women and about herself as the only
woman of color. She explained that the group could not even reach
consensus on whether everyone deserves equal access to breathing clean
air.

Carter also noted in a recent telephone interview that she prefers
working on projects that have multiple goals. “I have a core commitment
to communities that have the highest rates of incarceration, the
greatest need for health care. We are committed to making people full
participants in the green-based, not the fossil-fuel based economy.”

The event showcased organic turkey burgers and hot dogs from Earthfare,
as well as a range of pot-luck dishes from guests. Delicious pies were
donated by Digable Pizza, topped with vegetable from the community
garden.