Summary Of Bell Hooks By Gloria Watkins

bell hooks, the pen name of Gloria Watkins, wrote numerous books on social problems of the time period. In this particular article, Watkins describes what Americans truly think about poverty. She argues that the poor are represented in a negative manner, and she proposes solutions to this problem.
To prove the negative connotation of the poor, Watkins utilizes personal experience at Stanford. She notes that her professors and classmates always made the poor seem lazy and useless. Furthermore, when something went missing, the students would always point blame at the housekeepers who are perceived to be poor.
Additionally, Watkins conveys that media plays an important role in the negative connotation of the poor. She points out Harlem Nights

and Menace II Society to name a few. According to Watkins, these movies have similar plots in which the poor will do anything for material goods. She claims that this longing for material goods demoralizes the poor.
In order to promote change in the generalization of the poor, Watkins claims that people must understand that one can live a life of great value but be poor. Realizing this is true from personal experience, she calls for change in society. Additionally, she states that wealth and resources must be distributed equally in order to change the negative connotation of the poor.
Through media and personal experience, Watkins clearly identifies a problem within society towards the poor. Even though the poor are identified in this negative way, she suggests that there are many important values and lessons to be learned from the poor. Furthermore, Watkins shows the reader that the poor are unjustly represented in media and everyday language.