The Idea of University- Bell Hooks

amily and friends in the college decision-making process. Naturally, there was a slight sense of uncertainty and apprehension, on my father’s part especially, but overall, there were no major hindrances in my way. My parents never had to wonder or worry

. . .
” Believing that one’s socio-economic status should not determine their level of acceptance in the university setting was one of Hooks’ greatest struggles; for, she did not want to resort to assimilation, but at the same time, just as any other individual, she wanted to be accepted by her peers. Since I addressed black folk who were clearly not associated with Yale, she wanted to know whether or not I knew them. While Hooks spoke of the constant struggle to coexist with individuals whose backgrounds were diametrical to hers, in an environment where the higher social majority ruled, I, on the other hand, found myself in a similar situation. No shame has ever overtaken me, not at any time. The college experience is a multicultural experience, or at least it should be. The only difference is that I did not, nor do I today, feel any pressure to conform to the “status quo. ”

Now, from this passage, one could assume that Hooks’ actions during the walk with her

companion caused her to appear to be partial to her own kind. Hooks recalled an instance from her past:

“Walking with a black female colleague one day, I spoke to practically every black person in sight… an action which disturbed my companion. This does not mean that we all have to come together and form a collegiate melting pot, but we should at least be open-minded to differences, whether or not one of us is from the ghetto or another of us is a product of Society Hill. Disagreeing with the notion of “Black Only,” I advocate total unity. This is what I understand college to be- a place where people of diverse communities, heritages, religions, etc. Yet when I thought about it seriously, I realized that in a deep way, I knew them for they… resemble my family. Not to say that it is not difficult at times, because one does tend to gravitate toward his/her own kind in an unfamiliar environment, but I see this ideal as a stumbling block in our society. My main focus coming to college was to gain knowledge and simultaneously enlighten as many as possible: just as I have a lot to learn, I also have an abundance to share with others about my background and life experiences.

Common topics in this essay:
Ivy League, Hill Hooks, Imagining Bell, Stanford University, , total unity,

Approximate Word count = 823
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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