Profile in Focus | Dr. Cornel West Part 2 (1996 - 1998)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile in Focus | Dr. Cornel West Part 2 (1996 - 1998) (In Progress)
“TheFutureOfTheRace” under public domain by w:Knopf.
The Washington Post’s February 26, 1996 article “Harvard’s Dream Team” describes a captivating scene in a Harvard seminar room known as "the Cornel thing," where the philosopher Cornel West, renowned for his best-selling book "Race Matters," was delivering a spirited lecture. West's energetic and dynamic delivery style held the audience in rapt attention, despite the cramped quarters and rising temperatures. The seminar covered topics ranging from James Joyce and John Coltrane to Tennessee Williams and Lorraine Hansberry, all intricately connected in West's mind to W.E.B. Du Bois's concept of "construct of modernity" from his 1903 classic, "The Souls of Black Folk." West emphasized the rarity of intellectual texts receiving attention from the broader white world.
The article highlights Harvard's initiative to gather and spotlight many of America's leading Black intellectuals. This gathering paid homage to W.E.B. Du Bois, who walked the same Harvard Yard a century ago. Harvard's Department of Afro-American Studies, under the leadership of Henry Louis Gates Jr. (known as Skip), who had been heading both the department and the Du Bois Institute for Afro-American Research for nearly five years, played a central role in this resurgence. Gates, a prominent cultural critic and English professor, was instrumental in revitalizing a department that was once dormant. He convinced Cornel West, already a notable figure for his contributions to Black-defined philosophy, to leave his chairmanship at Princeton and join Harvard. Gates also recruited Kwame Anthony Appiah and historian Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham from Duke and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively. Furthermore, the distinguished sociologist William Julius Wilson made a significant move from the University of Chicago to Harvard.
This convergence of intellectual powerhouses was compared to Thurgood Marshall's gathering of legal scholars three decades earlier for research and arguments in the Brown v. Board of Education case. The article posed several questions, including whether this Harvard team could translate their scholarly expertise into practical solutions for national issues or if this was merely an academic endeavor. It also questioned whether Harvard's Afro-American Studies department could finally achieve stability and recognition after years of debate regarding its role. Lastly, the article pondered the value of a multidisciplinary degree from a multicultural department in the job market and whether it could help promote an understanding of multicultural America.
The article discusses the increasing prominence of African American faculty members at Harvard University, despite only 77 of the 2,000 full-time faculty positions being held by African Americans. Notable figures among them include psychiatrist Alvin Poussaint, neurology professor and explorer Allen Counter, law professors Charles Ogletree, Randall Kennedy, and Christopher Edley, education professor Sara Lightfoot, sociologist Orlando Patterson, and historian Martin Kilson. The article questions whether there is enough room for all of them to thrive within the university, given Harvard's reputation as America's oldest and wealthiest institution.
The article reflects on the revitalization of Harvard's Department of Afro-American Studies, which had been underemphasized and underfunded for years. In 1990, the department had dwindled to just one professor, and scholars were declining appointments. Students, encouraged by former Harvard law professor Derrick Bell, protested the lack of minority faculty members. Harvard President Neil Rudenstine recruited Henry Louis Gates Jr. from Duke, offering both scholarly and financial support. Gates, known for his public intellectual role, attracted substantial funding, including $2.5 million (~$4,933,683.02 adjusted to July 2023 inflation) in endowment money, helping the department flourish.
Gates, who had a high-profile reputation as a public intellectual, was aware of the expectations upon him. He aimed to establish a strong track record in the humanities and public policy. Gates referred to the recruitment of Cornel West and William Julius Wilson as creating the "Dream Team" of Black public intellectuals at Harvard. The article emphasizes the power of talent attracting talent, with Wilson's decision to join Harvard coming after years of lobbying and an impressive dinner hosted by Gates, attended by numerous prominent Black scholars.
Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s presence and efforts have brought newfound weight to the African American studies major at Harvard. Students are now taking it more seriously, recognizing its viability as a field of concentration. Mecca Nelson, a former student involved in the 1990 protest, attests to the shift in perception, stating that the focal point for Black studies has now shifted to Cambridge.
Senior student Joshua Solomon expresses enthusiasm for the intimate educational experience provided by the Afro-American Studies program. He appreciates the direct interaction with prominent scholars who authored the books they study.
Gates acknowledges the legacy of those who worked to shape the department, emphasizing that his success is not a result of superior intelligence or ambition but rather an administration that supports him. He walks past images of W.E.B. Du Bois, the first Black Harvard PhD recipient, and five individuals who contributed to the department's development.
Evelyn Higginbotham, a lecturer, captivates students with discussions on the cultural impact of slavery. She navigates through the American Colonies, delving into debates among scholars about slave culture origins. Her concern lies in understanding the humanity behind statistics.
Meanwhile, Gates engages in literary analysis, exploring the intersection of artistic achievement and political meaning. He draws on slave narratives and early writings to illustrate how literature and political discourse influence each other. Gates provides an example involving James Weldon Johnson's stance on Black dialect, highlighting how aesthetic achievement factors into political considerations.
In Cornel West's class, co-taught with law professor Roberto Unger, lecture halls are filled to capacity, and overflow spills into corridors. West's lectures are described as "events." He delves into topics like the "Black encounter with the absurd," expanding it to encompass America's broader encounter with absurdity. West critiques what he sees as a culture obsessed with superficial positivity, exemplified by Bobby McFerrin's song "Don't Worry, Be Happy."
Cornel West, leaning into his desk, reflects on the enduring absurdity known to Black people for generations. He notes how slaves, upon arrival, immediately grasped the absurdity of their situation, coining it as "slave ship absurdity."
Gates and West are set to release a book together, focusing on Du Bois' renowned essay "The Talented Tenth," a collaboration likely to garner significant attention. Leading Black intellectuals like them aim to reach wide audiences, recognizing the moral duty to discuss critical race-related issues in various forums.
While most university departments may not have a major global impact, Harvard's burgeoning community of Black scholars faces a unique expectation. They're urged to leverage their privileged position and intellectual acumen to address the challenges confronting the Black community.
West emphasizes the importance of intellectual work over political or social leadership. He stresses that their goal is to contribute intellectually and politically to alleviate the suffering experienced by Black individuals in society. The department's work should shed light on various predicaments, with effects extending far beyond the university walls.
West heads out for his routine nationwide engagements, hoping collectively to overcome the legacy of the "one-n*gger syndrome," a product of a racist system. With 35 million Black individuals in America, there's abundant room for excellence.
Gates discusses the next phase in the movement to integrate Black studies into the intellectual mainstream. He emphasizes the importance of joint appointments, intertwining African American studies with other disciplines. This approach builds a core constituency within the field while transforming traditional departments, making them see the inclusion of Black perspectives as essential.
The Afro-American professors at Harvard are engaged in various collaborative projects beyond their individual academic pursuits. They serve as board members of the Du Bois Institute, dedicated to supporting projects aligned with the legacy of Harvard's first Black intellectual. These projects include annotating all Black literature in African American periodicals from 1827 to 1940, completing the Encyclopaedia Africana proposed by Du Bois over 80 years ago, and cataloguing a vast photo archive focused on the Image of the Black in Western Art. Additionally, the institute will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Plessy v. Ferguson decision by organizing a mock rehearing of the case.
The Afro-Am department at Harvard operates as a cohesive community, fostering respectful critical conversations among its members. They recognize that while they hold independent perspectives, they are part of a collective effort.
Cornel West expresses hope that Harvard's Afro-Am department can embody a new spirit emerging in Black America, characterized by resilience and resistance. Despite the challenges faced, he believes in the importance of creative responses on intellectual, political, and economic fronts. Harvard's endeavors in this field are seen as part of a broader effort in the context of the larger picture of African American studies.
HARVARD'S DREAM TEAM - The Washington Post February 26, 1996
Henry Louis Gates And Cornel West - NPR April 4, 1996
Racial Justice - C-SPAN November 17, 1996
THE TWO NATIONS OF BLACK AMERICA - PBS FRONTLINE February 10, 1998
The Two Nations of Black America: The Best of Times, The Worst of Times - BROOKINGS March 1, 1998
Henry Louis Gates Jr. - SLATE April 12, 1998
Washington Journal | Daybook Interview - C-SPAN November 6, 1998
Ebony and Ivy - Texas Monthly February 1999
Street Life - The Atlantic August 1999
No light in his attic - salon October 11, 1999
Brother From Another Planet - New York Magazine October 18, 1999
Interview Cornel West - PBS FRONTLINE October 18, 1999
BORIS YELTSIN RESIGNS; CORNEL WEST - Charlie Rose January 3, 2000
The Last Great Critic - The Atlantic July 2000
Nader Campaign Rally - C-SPAN November 5, 2000
User Clip: Cornel West speech at November 5, 2000 Nader Campaign Rally - C-SPAN November 5, 2000
Cornel West Busts a Rhyme - The New Yorker August 12, 2001
At Odds With Harvard President, Black-Studies Stars Eye Princeton - The New York Times December 29, 2001
The People’s Preacher - The New Yorker February 10, 2002
Columbia Gets Star Professor From Harvard - The New York Times April 5, 2002
Cornel West Quitting Harvard - The Washington Post April 13, 2002
Defector Indignant at President of Harvard - The New York Times April 16, 2002
Right-Wing Blacklist - SLATE June 20, 2002
How the "public intellectual" went from a buzzword to a relic, in one short decade. - The Washington Post July 7, 2002
Cornel West's difficult road to Princeton - Chicago Tribune August 16, 2002
Henry Louis Gates Jr. to continue at Harvard: - The Harvard Gazette December 5, 2002
FILM; And the Oscar for Best Scholar - The New York Times May 18, 2003
Cornel West - PBS July 20, 2003
The Race Card - The New Yorker November 2, 2003
Sharpton Runs for Presidency, and Influence - The New York Times December 5, 2003
Conversation with Cornel West - C-SPAN March 24, 2004
‘American Idiot’ a refreshing tale of the times - TODAY | AP News September 21, 2004
Praying instead of cursing - SPIEGEL Culture December 9, 2004
Warrior for the word - salon April 7, 2005
Cornel West, the Musician? - NPR June 27, 2007
Niggerization - The Atlantic November 2007
Obama, Race, and the Right Side of History - Huffington Post November 30, 2007
Seeking Unity, Obama Feels Pull of Racial Divide - The New York Times February 12, 2008
Artist Of The Week: Dr. Cornel West - MTV February 18, 2002
America’s legendary intellectual - Al Jazeera April 16, 2008
Brain instead of bling-bling - SPIEGEL Culture May 2, 2008
Black activists face a race question - The Denver Post August 25, 2008
Thinkers in Transit, Philosophy in Motion - The New York Times February 20, 2009
"American Idol," post-Heidegger edition - salon February 26, 2009
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Police Report - the smoking gun July 23, 2009
Terence Blanchard: Free Will And 'Choices' - NPR August 24, 2009
Brother West - The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC September 29, 2009
Inside the Crisis - The New Yorker October 4, 2009
Brother West | WASHINGTON JOURNAL - C-SPAN October 15, 2009
Terence Blanchard Considers Life's 'Choices' - NPR October 21, 2009
The Oracle - The New Yorker October 26, 2009
Cornel West - Kids Britannica October 28, 2009
Cornel West, 'Living And Loving Out Loud' - NPR October 29, 2009
Big Think Interview With Cornel West - Big Think November 3, 2009
Cornel West’s Catastrophic Love - Big Think November 3, 2009
Cornel West, "Brother West: Living and Loving Outloud" - BookTV November 11, 2009
Cornel West: ‘Being true to the funk of living’ - TODAY November 27, 2009
African-Americans: Blacks in Cuba 'treated with callous disregard' - CNN December 9, 2009
Called Far and Wide to Touch Minds - The New York Times January 22, 2010
Cornel West - Al Jazeera March 11, 2010
Cornel West Comments On Obama's Nobel Peace Prize: Hard To Be War President With Peace Prize - Huffington Post March 18, 2010
Cornel West Reconsiders President Obama - NPR August 2, 2010
Cornel West: The Black Conscience or A Brooding Crank? - Huffington Post August 2, 2010
Music Monday: My Chat With Cornel West - Mother Jones August 16, 2010
Written with ChatGPT on September 18, 2023