DISCUSSION FOR ENGLISH
Question: bell hooks’ “Love as the practice of freedom,” the author makes several
compelling claims. In a thorough response (following paragraph format), identify three
of the most compelling claims that stood out to you. Tell me why they stood out to you
and whether you agree or disagree.
TOPIC SENTENCE: Without allowing yourself the freedom to love yourself wholeheartedly
how will you be free to love the people around you and your community. After reading Bell
Hooks’ “Love as the practice of freedom” I found that the ways you go about not having love
and not practicing self-love can lead yourself and those around you to be hurt. The three claims I
found show how I feel about the subject of freedom when it comes to love within ourselves and
the community.
1ST CLAIM: “Without love, our efforts to liberate ourselves and our world community
from oppression and exploitation are doomed.”
WHY IT STOOD OUT: I think this claim stood out to me because it speaks the truth. If
we do not have any type of love for ourselves or our community, we cannot liberate
anything. We would be stuck thinking what could have been. When in retrospect if we
have just chosen to love ourselves and community, we as people would be able to
thrive and build a better life for ourselves and everyone around us.
AGREE OR DISAGREE: I agree with this claim. I feel like when we have love for
ourselves and our community it doesn’t just help us be a better person but helps others
in the community be better as well. Especially when it comes to self-love as well and
having the freedom to love yourself wholeheartedly. When you give yourself the
freedom to love yourself loving everyone around you and loving your community
should come easier.
2ND CLAIM: “Without an ethic of love shaping the direction of our political vision and
our radical aspirations, we are often seduced, in one way or the other, into continued
allegiance to systems of domination—imperialism, sexism, racism, classism.”
WHY IT STOOD OUT: I think this claim stood out to me because as I have seen through
it being depicted on shows and movies or even out in public sometimes if we do not
have a love for ourselves, we let ourselves be taken advantage of and dominated by
others through our race, class, or sexual orientation. I believe that no matter what your
race, class, or sexual orientation is we are created equal and love is created equal as well
so it shouldn’t be a deciding factor in how you are treated.
AGREE OR DISAGREE: So, when asked whether I agree or disagree with this claim. I
100% agree with it because I have seen it and experienced it first-hand. We as people let
