Dr Cornel West
|
|
|
(born June 2, 1953, Tulsa, Oklahoma, US) American philosopher, scholar of African American studies, and political activist His influential book Race Matters (1993) lamented what he saw as the spiritual impoverishment of the African American underclass and critically examined the “crisis of black leadership” in the United States West's father was a civilian US Air Force administrator and his mother an elementary school teacher and eventually a principal During West's childhood the family settled in an African American working-class neighbourhood in Sacramento, California There West regularly attended services at the local Baptist church, where he listened to moving testimonials of privation, struggle, and faith from parishioners whose grandparents had been slaves Another influence on West during this time was the Black Panther Party, whose Sacramento offices were near the church he attended.
The Panthers impressed upon him the importance of political activism at the local level and introduced him to the writings of Karl Marx In 1970, at age 17, West entered Harvard University on a scholarship He graduated magna cum laude three years later with a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern languages and literature He attended graduate school in philosophy at Princeton University, where he was influenced by the American pragmatist philosopher Richard Rorty (West briefly abandoned work on his dissertation to write a novel, which was never published) After receiving his doctoral degree in 1980, West taught philosophy, religion, and African American studies at several colleges and universities, including Union Theological Seminary, Yale University (including the Yale Divinity School), the University of Paris, Princeton University, and Harvard University, where he was appointed Alphonse Fletcher, Jr, University Professor in 1998 He returned to Princeton in 2002 West's work was characteristically wide-ranging, eclectic, original, and provocative His several books analyzing issues of race, class, and justice or tracing the history of philosophy typically combined a political perspective based on democratic socialism ( social democracy), a Christian moral sensibility, and a philosophical orientation informed by the tradition of American pragmatism.
His best-known work, Race Matters, a collection of essays, was published exactly one year after the start of riots in Los Angeles that were sparked by the acquittal of four white policemen on charges of aggravated assault in the beating of Rodney King, an African American motorist The book discussed the pervasive despair and “nihilism” of African Americans in poverty and criticized African American leaders for pursuing strategies that West believed were shortsighted, narrow-minded, or self-serving West also considered issues such as black-Jewish relations, the renewed popularity of Malcolm X, and the significance of the Los Angeles riots themselves West was always a political activist as well as an academic, and he did not hesitate to participate in demonstrations or to lend his name or presence to causes he felt were just At times his activism created tensions with the administrations of the universities where he taught In 2001 the new Harvard University president, Laurence Summers, reportedly admonished West in private for devoting too much time to political activity and other extracurricular pursuits Their dispute was soon joined by supporters and detractors of West both inside and outside the academy, who debated not only the merits of West's scholarship but also the commitment of Summers and Harvard to affirmative action programs Eventually West resigned his position at Harvard and moved to Princeton West's other works include The American Evasion of Philosophy: A Genealogy of Pragmatism (1989), The Ethical Dimensions of Marxist Thought (1991), Beyond Eurocentrism and Multiculturalism (1993), and Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism (2004) In 2001 he recorded a raplike spoken-word CD entitled Sketches of My Culture.
In 2003 he appeared as the character Councillor West in the popular movies The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.
|
|
| |
|
|
Dr. Cornel West at Dartmouth College, April 25, 2013
|
|
Description: Dartmouth College suspended classes on April 24 for a day of reflection and understanding. The action followed an April 19 student protest that ...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Cornel West and MM McCabe on Philosophy in the Public Sphere
|
|
Cornel West, one of America's most celebrated and provocative public intellectuals, in conversation with Mary Margaret McCabe (KCL) and respondent Constanze ...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Cornel West: Whither America: Decline or Renewal?
|
|
Cornel R. West discusses issues of economic justice and the fate of America at the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City April 23, 2013. Event spons...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Dr Cornel West calls President Obama a War Crimes offender over bombings of innocents
|
|
Influential philosopher and history West is disappointed with Obama.
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Julian Assange speaks with Tavis Smiley & Cornel West
|
|
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sits down with West at the Ecuadorian embassy in London to talk about his latest text, Cypherpunks. Date: May 10th 2013.
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Cornel West on Racism, Inequality, & American Empire
|
|
Abby Martin talks to activist, author and Princeton professor, Dr. Cornel West, about class warfare, race issues, corporate greed, and the American empire. L...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
[142] Cornel West in Depth, 99 Problems but Cuba Aint One
|
|
Abby Martin Breaks the Set on Beyoncé & Jay-Z's Cuba Trip, and a One on One with Dr. Cornel West LIKE Breaking the Set @ http://fb.me/BreakingTheSet FOLLOW A...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
FLASH! talk with Dr Cornel West
|
|
Dr Cornel West is a Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. He was invited to unveil a painting of Malcolm X by local Sheffield artist...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
EXAMINED LIFE: Cornel West on TRUTH
|
|
truth, courage, funk, jazz, blues, music, romanticism, progress, Beethoven, Charlie Parker... Cornel West in the documentary, "Examined Life", directed by As...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
The New Jim Crow -- with Cornel West
|
|
Dr. Cornel West's spirited challenge to the "New Jim Crow" in the All Saints Rector's Forum. Inspired by Michelle Alexander's book "The New Jim Crow: Mass In...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Tavis Smiley & Cornel West on Election, Why Calling Obama Progressive Ignores His Record 1/2
|
|
Visit http://www.democracynow.org to watch more reports on Democracy Now!, an independent, global news hour that airs weekdays on 1100+ TV and radio station...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Cornel West | Occupy Wall Street Debate | Oxford Union
|
|
Cornel West gives his commanding proposition to the motion of "This House would Occupy Wall Street" Facebook @ http://fb.me/theoxfordunion Twitter @ http://w...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Dr.Cornel West - SOCIAL JUSTICE & THE POLITICAL PROCESS - AFROCENTRICITY INTERNATIONAL
|
|
Presentation given by Dr. Cornel West, professor, Union Theological Seminary on May 18,2013 at the 2nd Annual AFROCENTRICITY INTERNATIONAL Conference held at...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Cornel West Explains Why It Bothers Him That Obama Will Be Taking The Oath With MLKs Bible
|
|
January 19, 2013 C-SPAN http://MOXNews.com.
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Radhanath Swami and Dr. Cornel West - 1
|
|
Princeton scholar Dr. Cornel West and Radhanath Swami, a spiritual teacher, activist and author, in a discussion titled "East Meets West: A Dialogue Between ...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Ron Paul w/ Cornel West & Tavis Smiley 2/15/13
|
|
Ron Paul Video Playlist http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL510C370436A3E63D FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material. Such material i...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Craig Ferguson 11/5/10D Late Late Show Cornel West
|
|
Craig chats with the inspiring Dr Cornel West, author of "Living & Loving Outloud"...Bless you Dr West, you call them as you see them well. Goodness gracious...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Cornel West When I Look At Assassinating U.S. Citizens WHEN HE CHOOSES & HE DECIDES WHO TO KILL!
|
|
July 21, 2012 C-SPAN http://MOXNews.com.
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Bill OReilly Gets pwnd by Cornel West Tavis Smiley
|
|
4:48 Bill is an ass.
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Cornel West and Michael Moore- The Beginning is Near Hosted by Esther Armah
|
|
Conversation between Cornel West and Michael Moore at Hunter College, CUNY. Hosted by WBAI's Esther Armah and produced by the Brecht Forum (www.brechtforum.o...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Cornel West - End Mass Incarceration - Riverside Church
|
|
Cornel West speaks about ending mass incarceration in the United States.
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
AL SHARPTON AND CORNEL WEST GO AT IT OVER OBAMA!
|
|
SIDE NOTE: Please go to my blog,http://brotherhassans.blogspot.com/2013/02/when-lights-go-out-on-sale-now.html to purchase my book on black men, human sexual...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
The Stream - The N word
|
|
Follow The Stream on Al Jazeera: http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201302200020-0022558 YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/show/thestream TWITTER: https://twitt...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Cornel West Tells Us About Race, Values and Lives Worth Living
|
|
Dr. Cornel West gives his keynote speech at our Diversity-Management Best Practices From the Best of the Best Learning Sessions and Awards Dinner event. Dr. ...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Examined Life - Cornel West
|
|
Cornel West excerpts from Examined Life, a 2008 documentary film directed by Astra Taylor. The film features eight influential contemporary philosophers walk...
|
|
Watch Video
|
|
|
More Video
|
|
|