SCHOLAR, EDUCATOR, PHILOSOPHER, ACTIVIST - DR. CORNEL WEST
Dr. Cornel West
For those of you who have strolled along Nassau street a decade ago, you might have spotted Dr. Cornel West walking around, wearing his black suit and sporting his iconic afro. While he was not born in town, he studied philosophy in graduate school at Princeton University, and has taught philosophy, religion, and African American studies there. He truly is a local legend. West has also held professorships and fellowships at Harvard University, Yale University, Union Theological Seminary, Dartmouth College, Pepperdine University, and the University of Paris
Dr. West has written several books analyzing issues of race, class, and justice. A collection of essays, Race Matters was published a year after the Los Angeles riots happened in response to the acquittal of four white police officers in the beating of Rodney King. West's interest in activism started in his hometown of Sacramento, CA, where the Blank Panther Party had an office near his church. He was influenced by their view of the importance of political activism at the local level. West believed in participating in demonstrations, and allowed others to use his name for various causes.
He acknowledges that the U.S. is "a place where white supremacy continues to define everyday life." Our nation "has been historically weak-willed in ensuring racial justice and has continued to resist fully accepting the humanity of Blacks."
West left Princeton in 2012 and returned to where his teaching career began - Union Theological Seminary. He then went back to Harvard in 2016 for a non-tenured position. In 2021, he was denied consideration for tenure at Harvard and returned to Union Theological Seminary. West insinuated that the decision to deny him tenure was in response for his stance on Israel and the Palestinian cause.
Dr. Cornel West is a man who will always take a stance regarding equality, because he knows that silence always helps the oppressor.