MAKEDA SCHOOL MISSION

MAKEDA SCHOOL offers an opportunity to engage in a collaborative learning process that is often unavailable to individuals outside of a traditional academic setting. Grounded in liberatory and Black feminist educational praxis, MAKEDA SCHOOL aims to engage individuals who are curious, reflective, and committed to the life-long practice of learning. We are an intentional multi-ethnic, intergenerational, and inclusive space centering the literary and cultural contributions of past and contemporary BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers, scholars, artists, and activists. While all are welcome to register and attend our programs, hate speech and harassment of any kind is strictly prohibited.

Upcoming Course Summer 2025!

bell hooks's Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center

Please read the full course description below and complete the registration form as a first step to admittance to the seminar. You will then receive an email confirmation and instructions for finalizing your registration.

Course Dates: Saturday, July 12 - August 16, 2025
(Six consecutive Saturday sessions)

Time: 10 AM - 11:30 AM

Sliding Scale Seminar Fee: $275-450

Seating is limited!

18+ Recommended

Virtual Platform: Zoom Registration

Registration Deadline: Monday, July 7, 2025

Course Facilitator: Katherine Cheairs

Course Overview: This six-week online seminar examines the classic text Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center (1984), written by acclaimed cultural critic, scholar, and feminist writer bell hooks.

Seminar participants will engage in close reading, discussion, and analysis of the book along with archival and multimedia material to examine our current political, social, and historical context through a feminist theoretical lens. Each session will break down the book into chapters, which participants will read during the week. Participants will come prepared to discuss insights and make connections to other supplemental material.

If they so choose, participants will have an opportunity to conduct a 10-15 minute presentation during one of the subsequent sessions from a curated list of feminist theory articles and materials, or perhaps their own relevant art or scholarship. The course is conducted entirely via Zoom, and participants are strongly encouraged to attend all six sessions if possible to foster community, continuity, and trust among the group. After the first session, all registered participants will be added to a dedicated Google Drive folder for the seminar containing all supplemental readings and materials, video and audio recordings, and transcripts from each Zoom session. If a participant does need to miss a session, a recording will be available by Monday following the Saturday session.

For privacy considerations, sharing recordings, writing prompts, readings, and other materials with those not registered or participating in the class is strictly prohibited. While a PDF copy of the first edition of the text is provided for the course free of charge, it is recommended that participants purchase a copy.

If buying, please consider supporting a Black and/or feminist bookstore.

Course Registration:  Completing the registration form is required for admittance to the course. A confirmation email will be sent along with a link to complete payment. Makeda School for Art, Media, and Humanities offers sliding scale fees for programs on an honor system basis. Interested participants are encouraged to pay what they can within the suggested range based on their income and financial circumstances.

Payments:

Makeda School can offer a small number of full and partial scholarships to community members where the sliding scale is out of reach. If you would like to be considered for a full or partial scholarship to attend this course, please indicate that through the registration form.

Installment options are also available for attendees who do not need a scholarship but would benefit from being able to split the costs into two or three payments. Seminar participants who can pay at the full rate are encouraged to do so, knowing that support goes to supplement others who might otherwise not be able to attend.

It is a core value of Makeda School to foster organizational sustainability and nurture a practice of equitable compensation to facilitators that seeks to repair centuries of harm done through uncompensated labor practices and exploitation directed toward Black, queer, and other historically marginalized people.

Mission & Community Guidelines: 

Makeda School offers an opportunity to engage in a collaborative learning process that is often unavailable to individuals outside of a traditional academic setting. Grounded in liberatory and Black feminist educational praxis,

Makeda School aims to engage individuals who are curious, reflective, and committed to the lifelong practice of learning. This is an intentional multi-ethnic, intergenerational, and inclusive space centering the literary and cultural contributions of past and contemporary BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers, scholars, artists, and activists. While all are welcome to register and attend our programs, hate speech and harassment of any kind are strictly prohibited.

About Makeda School Makeda School for Art, Media, and Humanities was founded by educator, artist, and community impact leader, Katherine “Kat” Cheairs, MFA. Cheairs builds from over a decade of experience designing and executing unique and innovative arts, humanities, and media-based education programs for youth and adults. Visit www.makedaschool.com for more information. Personal information will not be shared with any external parties.

Register here!

Past Courses 


bell hooks's Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center (March 2 - April 6, 2024)

Other Countries: Black Gay Voices
(July 16 - August 20, 2022)

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave (1845)
(October 15 - December 10, 2022)

Say Your Name: Self-Portrait Experimental Video Workshop for Femme, Queer, Trans, and Non-Binary Folx

(Tuesday Section - October 18 - November 15, 2022)
(Thursday Section - October 20 - November 17, 2022)

More Testimonials

Say Your Name: Self-Portrait Experimental Video Workshop for Femme/Queer/Trans/Non-binary Folx!


"Kat Cheairs is an incredible instructor, she fuses deep knowledge about filmmaking, art, and queer studies, along with compassion, love, and support for her students." 

Say Your Name: Self-Portrait Video
Workshop Participant (Fall 2022)


"I have been wanting to take a course on film and even better that it was from a queer perspective."

Say Your Name: Self-Portrait Video
Workshop Participant (Fall 2022)

bell hook's Feminist Theory:
From Margin to Center Seminar



"bell hooks was always on my to-read list, but I hadn’t had a chance to dive into her works. With the goal of expanding my knowledge of foundational black feminist texts, I knew right away that I’d want to take this course."

From Margin to Center
Seminar Participant (Spring 2024)

"I wanted to read more bell hooks. In a time of feeling hopeless about the future, I've been looking toward writers who envision alternate ways of being and thinking."

From Margin to Center
Seminar Participant (Spring 2024)