--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The notion that black folks have nothing…" description: "\"The notion that black folks have nothing to learn from scholarship that may reflect racial or racist biases is dangerous. It promotes closed-mindedness..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/bell-hooks-464_african-american_the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing_2987799.jpg" --- # The notion that black folks have nothing to learn from… ![“The notion that black folks have nothing to learn from scholarship that may reflect racial or racist biases is dangerous. It promotes closed-mindedness and a narrow understanding of knowledge to hold that "race" is such an overwhelming concept that it negates the validity of any insights contained…” quote by Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/bell-hooks-464_african-american_the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing_2987799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/bell-hooks-464_african-american_the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing_2987799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/bell-hooks-464_african-american_the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing_2987799.jpg) > “The notion that black folks have nothing to learn from scholarship that may reflect racial or racist biases is dangerous. It promotes closed-mindedness and a narrow understanding of knowledge to hold that "race" is such an overwhelming concept that it negates the validity of any insights contained in a work that may have some racist or sexist aspects.” [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement warns that dismissing scholarship because of perceived racial bias limits learning and reinforces narrow thinking. **In simple terms:** Rejecting work for bias blocks valuable insight. Key Takeaway Critically engage with ideas, not just their origins. Themes education racism critical thinking open-mindedness Mood thoughtful concerned Type ethical educational When to use this quote - academic research - public policy - personal growth Key Concepts bias awareness intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance critique of bias with appreciation of content? - What steps ensure inclusive yet critical scholarship? A Different Perspective Bias can be overemphasized, ignoring merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Racist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racist/) [Scholarship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarship/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's important to condemn that. There's a line, and if you have a racial - racist comment, no, somebody has to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/i-think-it-s-important-to-condemn-that-there-s-a-line-and-if-you-have/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [To counter the fixation on a rhetoric of victimhood, black folks must engage in a discourse of self-determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-counter-the-fixation-on-a-rhetoric-of-victimhood-black-folks-must/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [..the struggle to end sexist oppression that focuses on destroying the cultural basis for such domination strengthens other liberation struggles. Individuals who fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-struggle-to-end-sexist-oppression-that-focuses-on-destroying-the/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To me, a woman can't be a feminist just because she is a woman. She is a feminist because she begins to divest herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-me-a-woman-can-t-be-a-feminist-just-because-she-is-a-woman-she-is/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [If we are ever to construct a feminist movement that is not based on the premise that men and women are always at war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/if-we-are-ever-to-construct-a-feminist-movement-that-is-not-based-on/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Individual heterosexual women came to the movement from relationships where men were cruel, unkind, violent, unfaithful. Many of these men were radical thinkers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/individual-heterosexual-women-came-to-the-movement-from-relationships/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/feminism-is-a-movement-to-end-sexism-sexist-exploitation-and/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Feminism is the struggle to end sexist oppression. Its aim is not to benefit solely any specific group of women, any particular race or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/feminism-is-the-struggle-to-end-sexist-oppression-its-aim-is-not-to/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [They wanted black women to conform to the gender norms set by white society. They wanted to be recognized as 'men,' as patriarchs, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/they-wanted-black-women-to-conform-to-the-gender-norms-set-by-white/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Most gay men are as sexist in their thinking as are heterosexuals. Their patriarchal thinking leads them to construct paradigms of desirable sexual behaviour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-gay-men-are-as-sexist-in-their-thinking-as-are-heterosexuals/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The process begins with the individual woman’s acceptance that American women, without exception, are socialized to be racist, classist and sexist, in varying degrees,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-process-begins-with-the-individual-woman-s-acceptance-that/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Feminism is a struggle to end sexist oppression. Therefore, it is necessarily a struggle to eradicate the ideology of domination that permeates Western culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/feminism-is-a-struggle-to-end-sexist-oppression-therefore-it-is/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It is obvious that many women have appropriated feminism to serve their own ends, especially those white women who have been at the forefront…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-is-obvious-that-many-women-have-appropriated-feminism-to-serve/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Feminism has never emerged from the women who are most victimized by sexist oppression; women who are daily beaten down, mentally, physically, and spiritually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/feminism-has-never-emerged-from-the-women-who-are-most-victimized-by/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Religion can be a good thing. Churches did black folks good after Reconstruction. It was the only place people like Nat Turner and Douglass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaunda-micheaux-nelson/religion-can-be-a-good-thing-churches-did-black-folks-good-after/) [Vaunda Micheaux Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaunda-micheaux-nelson/) ## More by Bell Hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 Bell Hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/) [Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) [Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The notion that black folks have nothing to learn from scholarship that may reflect racial or racist biases is dangerous. It promotes closed-mindedness and a narrow understanding of knowledge to hold that \"race\" is such an overwhelming concept that it negates the validity of any insights contained in a work that may have some racist or sexist aspects.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bell Hooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing-to-learn-from-scholarship/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "African american" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing-to-learn-from-scholarship/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/bell-hooks-464_african-american_the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing_2987799.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/bell-hooks-464_african-american_the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing_2987799.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/bell-hooks-464_african-american_the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing_2987799.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The notion that black folks have nothing to learn from scholarship that may reflect racial or racist biases…” — Bell Hooks", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bell Hooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The notion that black folks have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing-to-learn-from-scholarship/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-notion-that-black-folks-have-nothing-to-learn-from-scholarship/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```