“The fundamental role of the public intellectual – distinct from, yet building on, the indispensable work of academics, experts, analysts, and pundits – is to create and sustain high-quality public discourse addressing urgent public problems which enlightens and energizes fellow citizens, prompting them to take public action.” – Cornel WestThis phrase quoted from West is only one of many that you will receive by attending “An Evening with Dr. Cornel West,” Thursday, Feb. 3 in the Memorial Student Center at 6 p.m.
A professor of Religion and African American Studies at Princeton University, West has been called “America’s Public Intellectual,” aptly describing his relaxed demeanor and easy accessibility. He avoids the jargon that oftentimes separates the scholar from the world he or she is supposed to describe, ” states an article in the Northeastern Voice. West has won numerous awards, and received more than 20 honorary degrees.
West’s work has been described as a “polemical weapon that attempts to transform linguistic, social, cultural, and political tradition to increase the scope of individual development and democratic actions.” West’s intellectual contributions stem from the African American Baptist Church, Marxism, socialism, transcendentalism, and pragmatism.
At the age of 17, West enrolled at Harvard University and graduated in a short three years by 1973, magna cum laude. To complete his graduate degree, West attended Princeton where he soon began to dedicate his time to the pragmatist school of philosophy. In 1980, he completed his dissertation, which was later revised and published as The Ethical Dimensions of Marxist Thought. He later returned to Harvard as a fellow before becoming assistant professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
In 1984 West obtained a joint appointment in American Studies at Yale Divinity School. From 1988 to 1993 West was at Princeton as professor of religion and director of African American Studies. By 1993 West joined the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for Afro American Research. Five years later he became Alphonse Fletcher Jr. University Professor. Princeton drew West back in its arms in 2002 as the Professor of Religion and African American Studies.
Aside from his teachings in the classroom, West is known for his many published works: Black Theology and Marxist Thought (1979); Prophesy Deliverance! An Afro American Revolutionary Christianity (1982); Prophetic Fragments (1988); The American Evasion of Philosophy: A Genealogy of Pragmatism (1989); Breaking Bread: Insurgent Black Intellectual Life (with Bell Hooks, 1991); The Ethical Dimensions of Marxist Thought (1991); Beyond Eurocentrism and Multiculturalism (1993); and West’s best selling book Race Matters (1993) has sold 400,000 copies. It changed the course of dialogue in race, justice, and democracy in America. Among some of his latest publications are Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism (2004), and many more.
West has worked and is part of numerous political and social organizations, such as: Democratic Socialist of America, National Parenting Organizations Task Force on Empowerment, Tikkun Community, part of President Clinton’s National Conversation on Race, and Al Sharpton’s Presidential exploratory committee. West has also participated in projects such as the Million Man March, Russell Simmon’s Hip Hop Summit, and has worked with well known figures as Louis Farrakhan and Ralph Nader.