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Thanks to my new friend, I am now in the loop of amazing African-centered events in the Richmond area. Friday, I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Cornel West at Virginia Union University’s The Forum on Religion and the Contemporary World! His lecture was titled LIVING AND LOVING OUT LOUD
Who is Dr. Cornel West you ask?
Cornel Ronald West is an American philosopher, author, critic, actor, and civil rights activist. West currently serves as the Class of 1943 University Professor at Princeton University, where he teaches in the Center for African American Studies and in the department of Religion.
West is known for his combination of political and moral insight and criticism, and his contribution to the post-1960s civil rights movement.
The bulk of his work focuses upon the role of race, gender, and class in American society and the means by which people act and react to their “radical conditionedness.” West draws intellectual contributions from such diverse traditions as the African American Baptist Church, pragmatism and transcendentalism.(1)
As I sat in the lecture, I took a few notes…
Expelled from School
Dr. West described himself as a young gangster. In his youth, he was kicked out of the 3rd grade for punching a teacher! He knew of his uncle that was lynched, and wrapped in the US flag. His teacher asked him to stand, and solute the flag. When he refused, his teacher slapped him, and he retaliated. Although he was blessed with a full loving family, he still had lots of rage. He explains his past “gangster” mentality is a form of rage.
Yes Dr. West was/is Gangsta
He wasn’t like the gangster you may think. One, unafraid to tell the truth. One who hated to see the weak and mistreated. One who would practice socialism, one who would implement robin hood tendencies to serve his community as a whole. The youth of today need outlets to express their rage. As he got older, he used education, his voice and books as an outlet for his rage.
Black America Today
After fighting America, and the apartheid, Black folk have moved into an obsession with success. Success of material items; material toys, and trophy spouses.
We as a people have become adjusted to injustice,” or “adapted to indifference.”
Inspiration vs Role Model
If you ask youth today, who is your role model, they may respond Oprah. But in all actually, she is an inspiration. A role model should be a member of your community, someone you can touch, speak to and engage with. Your mom, teacher, coach…
Definition of Hood
In Dr. West’s youth, he lived in a neighborhood, a community in which people looked out for each other. Today, unfortunately we have a shift from neighborhood to hood. This shift is not one of those in poverty, but communities like Wall Street. Hoods like Wall Street want to make money, by any means necessary. Not worrying about mankind.
Black Suffering
Don’t allow black suffering to blind us of the suffering of other people, weather economic, or other racial injustices.
Veterans of Terrorism
9-11 was the first time all Americans were terrorized. First time all Americans felt unsafe, and hated for just being themselves. Black folk however, are veterans of terrorism. One can run down a list of our injustices today from unemployment rates, schools, police brutality, or even the young men being shot daily.
Faced with Terrorism, what would Black legends say?
Legends like…
Ida B Wells
Fredrick Douglas
Mary McLeod Bethune
Jesse Owens
All legends are a apart of a Love train
Consider The mother of Emmett Till, what would she say to Terrorism?
She decided to have an open casket funeral for her son, she did it not to seek revenge, but for the human spirit, and gain justice for all.
American leaders however, when faced with terrorism want to kill terrorist like cockroaches, but Black folk just want equal rights for all.
What does it mean to be human?
Human, from the latin word meaning humility; unpretentious, or humble. We as humans are all vanishing creators in space and time.
Define Freedom
Mumia Abu-Jamal is a political prisoner on death row who is free in prison, while you have so many people walking around Imprisoned, struggling to figure out what it means to be human.
Love
Love starts from home. Take care of home, and that love will spill out to our brothers and sisters of other races and nations.
Who are we going to be between our mother’s womb and the tomb?
Crimes Against Humanity
Unnamed past presidents, a White House who steals an election, are all examples of gangsters. There are gangster churches.. you know the ones with 2 ATMs in the lobby and no crosses, CEOs and even universities. Universities should generate consciousness. One should not confuse education with schooling. Can we focus on greatness not just success? There is nothing wrong with success? Howver, something is wrong when it becomes the end. Greatness is being servant to a higher power.
Instant Gratification
There is an obsession with immediate pleasure, especially among our youth. An obsession with immediate pleasure can be difficult to connect with history. Rich musical history comes from soul searching, finding your voice. Current music on the other hand represents body stimulation. Dr. West mentions he is praying for Souljah Boy. He explains he likes Lil Wayne because he is passionate about his music. 50 cent on the other hand says he does it for the money.
Don’t confuse your calling with a career.
In music there is a lot of copies. Copies = success. The process of creating original music is finding your own voice.
An example of the neighborhood
John Coltrain lived in the projects. Dealing with loss in his life he continued to blow and blow through the night. Neighbors grew concerned that his nightly musical habit would get him kicked out of the projects. The news grew of his nightly noise until the Pastor from the church knocked on his apartment door. The preacher offered him a key to the church and said he could go to the church and play at night, but cautioned him to avoid doing it in the projects so that they wouldn’t get kicked out.
Peacocks
Peacocks walk around saying LOOK AT ME! I have to be the center of attention all the time. They continue to strut, because they can’t fly.
Progress
Surround yourself with people that can stimulate, elevate you.
We need to be highly prepared and have a vigilante attitude. Youth need to become extensions of tradition, to spill over to our nation.
When we try and accomplish change we sometimes feel defeated, give up or sell out.
Optimism, is an White man thing. Dr. West explains he is a Blues man. Blues are not happy. Sadness and sorrow are important to life. Pleasure is individual, and joy is communal.
Campaign Obama
Obama said that America is a magical place. Dr. West mentioned he and Tavis Smiley joked that Obama was going to have a Christopher Columbus experience in which he would discover America. Look at this history of the Black experience, the sacrifice and the fight for democracy. Any one can see that America is no Disneyland. Dr. West had a long talk with President Obama. He says, you must tell the truth because people deserve it.
Socialism
Socialism already exist for the rich. Every mom that fails on welfare is not given a bailout like Wallstreet. Out of love, when people are wrong they need to be corrected. Predatory lending, no convictions. 8 years of torture, no convictions. These are crimes against humanity. But if Jammal is caught with a crack bag his crime is researched and convicted. But it is argued the page should be turned for those that committed torture. Everyone needs to be treated the same. Home owners and investment bankers. Why? Poverty educates people in a negative way. It has national security risk, we need to raise our voice in a loving critical manner for change.
The peacock mentality however, is to exist in spiritual malnutrition.
Moral constipation, you know whats right, but it gets stuck and can’t get out.
Joy is in others and your calling. Gratitude comes from knowing those who came before you. Having gratitude will not give the ego too much room to operate.
After the lecture, there was a question and answer session. Fraternal brothers of Dr. West presented him with a certificate. The group of young men posed with Dr. West while he bent down, crossed his arms in a homeboy pose. The young man who presented him with the certificate asked, How do Black people win the battle when they don’t know what to fight for? Dr. West answered by rubbing is beard and saying Yes! It [issues of Blacks] is not as blatant as the injustices of Apartheid of civil rights when you can easily draw a line. These days we know there are to many funerals. He quoted Raheem DeVaughn; 
Living like we bulletproof
We bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang
I say we load it, cock it, aim and shoot
Oh we load it, cock it, aim and shoot
How do you get control over housing and the school system? There are places in American where they are no guns, no drugs. Why are our communities different? People are sleep walking.. youth are pacified because they only seek body stimulation.
Another lady “asked a question” by saying she too loves Raheem DaVaughn’s CD. Dr. Cornel West started talking about his other favorite similar artist like Jill Scott, and Anthony Hamilton.
Then the Q&A session was cut off because Virginia Union had another appointment for Dr. West they had to rush to. Honestly, I had such a good feeling listening to the lecture. From what I observed, Dr. Cornel West just seemed like a kool down to eather person I would love to sit and chat with. Did I mention I love his ‘fro? I bet he uses Shea Butter!
~Lady Kinnks
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i have so many people walking around Imprisoned, struggling to figure out what it means to be human.
I saw/heard Cornel a few years ago and was blown away. It takes a brilliant mind to recognize that he’s not perfect, yet has the means to create perfection. A lot of the things I do now come from that experience I had that night and yes! Dr. Cornel West is a fool on a mission!...