Race Matters

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Despite the rising climate of racial hatred and violence in America, discussions of race remain trapped in traditional liberal and conservative rhetoric. Cornel West emerges as a transformative voice, addressing urgent issues facing black Americans, from discrimination to despair and the legacy of Malcolm X. He courageously breaks the silence surrounding taboo topics in the black community while acknowledging the realities of race in America. Drawing from his background as the grandson of a Baptist minister, West combines the love ethic of the African-American religious tradition with political insights from the Black Panthers. His fresh perspective allows him to tackle painful and controversial issues, including new black conservatism, black-Jewish relations, and myths about black sexuality. Described by the New York Times as a "cosmopolitan public intellectual," West is recognized for making intellectual discourse engaging. Scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. refers to him as "our Black Jeremiah," while Harvard Divinity School's Dean Ronald F. Thiemann notes his unique capability to inherit the mantle of Reinhold Niebuhr. West warns that racial hierarchy threatens the democratic fabric of the nation, fostering collective paranoia and hysteria. With love and insight, he guides Americans toward a genuine multiracial democracy.