Paulo Freire and bell hooks: an encounter in the United States

Abstract

This article analyzes the reciprocal influences between Paulo Freire and bell hooks based on the examination of their biographies, works, and writings. Both of them had the opportunity to get to know each other, and several authors highlight the impact exerted by Freire’s early works in the Americas, as well as the effect of his passage through the United States. Freire and hooks published in English, deepening the debate on the politics of education and the perception of inequalities of class, race, and sex. Relying on bibliographic sources and critical literature, the article identifies points of convergence between the popular educator and the feminist militant, suggesting that they have positioned themselves at the center of global capitalism and built an insurgent theory, thus challenging hegemonic positions.