“Individuals who want to believe that there is no fulfillment in love, that true love does not exist, cling to these assumptions because this despair is actually easier to face than the reality that love is a real fact of life but is absent from their lives.”

bell hooks is an American cultural critic and feminist theorist. She is best known for her accessible, intersectional writings on race, gender, and education, blending academic rigor with a commitment to social justice. Her work remains influential in discussions about identity and systemic change.