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- Give thinking a chance
- Race Matters
- Race matters to Cornel West...
- Race Matters (Vintage)
- Hard to Follow
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Race Matters
Cornel West
Manufacturer: Vintage
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0679749861
Release Date: 1994-03-29 |
Book Description
With a new introduction, the groundbreaking classic
Race Matters affirms its position as the bestselling, most influential, and most original articulation of the urgent issues in America?s ongoing racial debate.
Cornel West is at the forefront of thinking about race. In
Race Matters he addresses a range of issues, from the crisis in black leadership and the myths surrounding black sexuality to affirmative action, the new black conservatism, and the strained relations between Jews and African Americans. He never hesitates to confront the prejudices of all his readers?or wavers in his insistence that they share a common destiny. Bold in its thought and written with a redemptive passion grounded in the tradition of the African-American church,
Race Matters is a book that is at once challenging and deeply healing.
Customer Reviews:
Give thinking a chance.......2006-12-28
I am a West Reader so I may be a little bias on my review. Race Matters is a piece that takes the current position of many miniority races and forces them to relate to each other. The section on Malcolm and Black Rage hits it on the head. It has started my research on nihilism and allows the reader to jump into new areas of thought. It will expand your mind like all of West's works.
Race Matters.......2006-03-11
Excellent look at race issues in America that apply today even though the book was written more tha a decade ago.
Race matters to Cornel West..........2006-03-03
...because that's how he makes his money and fame. Without it, he'd be known for what he ultimately is: a poor charlatan posing as a "scholar."
Race Matters (Vintage).......2006-03-01
Race Matters is an excellent book! Cornel West is a brillant man and one of our great leaders.This book is a must read for any one seeking knowledge and truth.
Hard to Follow.......2006-02-07
I found this book hard to follow. His arguments weren't always clear and, honestly, I felt like he was using "big words" to impress his readers.
I'll give him one thing: passion. I could feel how passionate he was about his topic, but all in all a hard-to-read book.
Book Description
An anthology of the best work of an always compelling, often controversial, and absolutely essential philosopher of the modern American Experience.
Cornel West is one of the nation's premier public intellectuals and one of the great prophetic voices of our era. Whether he is writing a scholarly book or an article for Newsweek, whether he is speaking of Emerson, Gramsci, or Marvin Gaye, his work radiates a passion that reflects the rich traditions he draws on and weaves together--Baptist preaching, American transcendentalism, jazz, radical politics. This anthology reveals the dazzling range of West's work, from his explorations of "Prophetic Pragmatism" to his philosophizing on hip-hop. The Cornel West Reader traces the development of West's extraordinary career as academic, public intellectual, and activist. In his essays, articles, books, and interviews, West emerges as America's social conscience, urging attention to complicated issues of racial and economic justice, sexuality and gender, history and politics. This collection represents the best work of an always compelling, often controversial, and absolutely essential philosopher of the modern American experience.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent!.......2007-04-05
I truly believe that Cornel West is one of the preeminent socio-political thinkers of our time. Mr. West has the ability to engage his readers without patronizing them and to encourage thoughtful dialogue without lecturing. Anyone who lives in this country would benefit from reading Mr. West; not only social liberals.
Cornal West Reader.......2006-07-03
Interesting and informative, West gives a new perspective on the Black identity in the post era. One has to be well versed in philosophy, religion, and sociological theory to derive the full essence of West's writings. West is truly an intellectual, one driven by commitment, conviction, and love for the Black community. He is truly an asset to the academic community.
west is a genius........2006-04-07
if you wish to understand, buy this book. west is a genius and his essays, poetry and interviews are a must for anyone wishing to participate in the practice of diversity. dr. west is, in my mind, the most gifted intellectual in america today - i have learned so many things from the man and his writings. he stretches my imagination and pushes me to a greater appreciation for the pursuit of understanding. i hope you feel as deeply indebted to the man after reading this tome.
To be Human, Modern, and America mean...?.......2006-03-14
This book is a tour de force, a virtual Kamikazee attack, a guerilla assault on the lazy or indifferent American progressive intellect.
Self-described "Chekhovian Christian," Public Philosopher, Cultural and Literary Critique, Christian Minister, Democratic Socialist, Radical Democrat, and Princeton Professor, Cornel West uses this book to extend his existential journey into better understanding (and as a partial response to), what he sees as the deep and unnecessary misery and suffering seen in the richest culture in the world. He does this by exploring the intellectual and existential resources needed to continue to feed our courage for the fight over the long-haul towards achieving real democracy.
Much of his quest is directed at answering three basic questions: What does it mean in a radically contingent and fragile world to be: human, modern, and American?
West answer those questions in the following way:
To be human means: enduring with dignity and honesty the existential incongruities and sufferings of life, including the inevitability of death -- and still being able to maintain the courage to continue the battle for a separate identity, freedom and equality.
To be modern is to: have the courage to use one's intelligence to first see and then engage in a conscious and constructive process of questioning and challenging the prevailing authorities, powers and hierarchies of the society. It means not giving in to the easy certainties of ideologies and false prophecies; and being ever conscious of the modalities of self-making and the self-creating possibilities of those who suffer.
To be American means to: be consciously engaged in a fragile experiment in which democratic dialogue sits precariously at the center of all self-making and self-creating projects -- projects that with sufficient energy, self-reliance, boldness and restlessness, can open up vast possibilities for those truly committed to democratic principles. It is to have unrestrained hope for a future that can transcend any troubled past; yet it also means living side-by-side with pervasive mendacity, cruel contradictions, and stage-managed hypocrisy. To be American is to raise (but leave unanswered) the most frightening of democratic questions: What does the public interest have to do with the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our society?
And this is just for starters.
In explaining how he came to this mature intellectual and existential perspective, West chronicles his intellectual and spiritual development, and here there are many surprises. One cannot safely tuck West into any old box with the familiar labels: Christian, Black, Marxist, Public Intellectual, etc., for he is not only careful but has come to his development though hard work, insight and deeply felt human awareness. Calling himself a Chekhovian Christian is no accident any more than calling himself a Democratic Socialist, or a Radical Democrat, is. These things are not only what he embraces but are also who he is. But, whether intentional or not, they also serve to "distance" him from the normal categories these labels typically apply to.
For instance, a Chekhovian Christian cannot be confused with those who use the Christian label as a "get-out-hell free card," and as a way to immunize themselves against the "sins of others." Being a Chekhovian Christian is refusing to be imprisoned and walled-in by intentionally inflicted misery. It is to wake up each day with a new strategy for survival.
Being a "Democratic socialist;" again is not just a knee-jerk ideological label but is the result of a status carefully cultivated and carved out by West after traveling a difficult and precarious intellectual path to a clearing somewhere in the middle of a vast Marxist intellectual dessert. His Marxism is in fact as much a reinterpretation of Marx's on ethical teachings, as it is traditional Marxism. The areas upon which West's Marxism ideas are based, are so obscure and profound that most everyday card-carrying Marxists have never heard of them.
And of course, his designation of being a Radical Democrat, is arrived at by simply transposing the label of the pre-Reconstruction Radical Republicans, to today's under-Radicalized Democrats, which not only are not radical, but are card-carrying "Lite Republicans."
All of what I have reviewed so far gets one up to about page 11, and already I feel like I could pass a Phd orals in Philosophy, Sociology, Political Science, Social Theory, and Literary Criticism.
There are not enough stars in the universe to evaluate and properly judge this book.
Amen.
poor.......2005-08-04
I must say that Cornel West is more suited to acting in the Matrix or singing on his rap album than he his as a 'scholar' or university professor. President Summers was right to justly criticize Prof. West, but of course in the Jesse Jackson-era of America (jump on situations to shill money out of companies, institutions, and individuals in the name of combating 'racism' but really just to line your own pockets...for an example, look at how Jesse and his sons burgled millions out of Anheuser-Busch), Harvard quickly appointed a diversity advisor and earmarked 50 million dollars u.s. for "diversity." A sad reflection of the sorry state of our times.
Book Description
The Idealist showcases the fine art photography of Glen E. Friedman, who many including the Washington Post call "One of the greats of his generation." The Idealist is the work of a true visionary, effortlessly mixing landscapes, still life, and documentary photography, and calling parallel to his own innate idealism through the images, and by including original comments from some of the most progressive, and politically controversial thinkers of our time - Ralph Nader, Reverend Al Sharpton, Ian MacKaye, Cornel West, and Ian Svenonius.
This collection of photographs from 25 years (1976 - 2001) of Friedman's work concentrates on his visual aesthetic and is the public introduction to his striking fine-art photography. Though he continues a heavy focus on both imagery and message, only a few of his traditional photographs of legendary people in the hip-hop, punk and skate communities will be recognized. The Idealist traces Friedman's development as a fine-artist as his subject matter includes a breathtaking international scope of landscapes, still life, and documentary. New and old fans of his work will be delighted to see his capacity to capture essential moments of most anything he sets his eyes on, to help us open ours.
The book size and cover have been changed slightly, over a dozen images have been removed and over two dozen new ones have been added. The book will now encompass 25 years. Adding 5 years and over a dozen pages to the original edition, as well as additional new words on Idealism contributed by Rev. Al Sharpton, Ralph Nader and Cornel West.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2005-05-25
Everything submitted about this book is right on point. I just received it and it is a beautiful publication.
It must also be mentioned that besides all of the fantastic photography and art direction overall, the words on idealism contributed by such illustrious thinkers and revolutionaries as Ralph Nader, Cornel West, Ian MacKaye, Al Sharpton, and Ian Svenonius, truly emphasize the viewpoint of the author Friedman as eloquently and as insightfully as you can imagine. Simply inspiring words to pepper this incredibly colorful book.
It's Alive.......2004-05-04
This book is it! I really can't overstate how great this book is even at the first quick view. If you have the first editon of The Idealist, don't be put off by the $6 jump in the price, it's worth a great deal more than that. Moreover, if you were thinking this was just going to be a sloppy re-hash of a previous edition, you won't believe how well the new edit clicks.
Books and photographs like these are the reason why I like my eyes and why I tell people my sense of sight would be the last thing I'd want to lose. For those with a more pure interest in photography, this book shows us that Friedman's vision and attitude are the secret reasons why the Pentax K1000 was invented. This book embarrasses those other photographers who struggle to force down garbage with unnecessary equipment that costs thousands of dollars more. This book isn't about equipment, about a process, about celebrity or about an ego.
This book really is ANTI-WASTE and BREATHING in a way that "photography" books rarely are: Barnes and Noble should be taking note.
If you liked the juxtapositions of the first edition, you'll be pleasesd to see both new and old favorites.
I believe these pictures still stand out after years of having them etched on my consciousness and that's the reason I'll always keep coming back to LOOK. That is, Friedman creates pictures and books that age well. Everytime I pick up one of his books, I see something that I never noticed on previous viewings. He never gets boring! You won't be content with filing this in a dusty library.
The Idealist 25 makes me happy in a way that very few material things do.
AMAZING!.......2004-04-11
I got this book from the publisher before it was released to the public via the BurningFlags.com website for Glen E. Friedman. Then went to the exhibition in Los Angeles at Sixspace. I bought the 1st edition here at Amazon.com, discounted, almost 5 years ago. What a great book, I've shared the inspiring work with many friends over the years. This is Friedman's art, and his art is amazing! This new edition and the exhibition took my respect for all his work to new heights.
For the most part the new edition as stated above is the same, a few pictures missing, and a bunch more added representing 5 more years. But the really unbelievable bonus, besides the new photographs, is the new original words from two former U.S. Presidential candidates, the Reverend Al Sharpton and Ralph Nader, as well as the incredible scholar from Harvard University, presently residing at Princeton University, Professor Cornel West . Where most photographers as artists or reporters would be content to just show their photographs, Friedman feels obligated to inspire us further with words from people he's met and respects. This is a very special book. The words from Ian MacKaye (of Minor Threat and Fugazi) and Ian Svenonious (of Nation of Ulysses, the Make Up, and Weird War) from the 1st edition are also in this new edition, so you won't miss those. This version adds 5 more years but seems even tighter than the previous. It's great.
If you are a fan of great photography, whether you know Friedman's more poplar work or not, does not matter. This is a book by an incredible inspiring photographer to be respected and appreciated. GET THIS BOOK NOW.
The Real Deal.......2004-04-11
In the last decade or so, the 70s and 80s have been exhumed and exploited by industries looking to sell product: music, clothes, soft drinks ad nauseum all "re-packaged" for cheap street cred. As anyone who came of age in that quietly turbulent time can tell you, retro disco and synthesizers, "vintage" sneaks and studded belts are soul-less substitutes for the real deal. This second edition lets us finally, gloriously relive those years in the very real photographs of Glen E Friedman. But skaters, hardcore shows and hip hop are just the beginning of GEF's voyage - and ours as well - through the last quarter century, because we are there with him in that decisive moment when he pulls his Pentax out to shoot, whether it's in some Asian street market or on some anonymous Roman street corner - we're no longer in someone's sweaty basement at a Black Flag show, but out there in the crazy, beautiful, f*cked up world we share and that the idealist Friedman demands us to save, goddamnit. The essays included in this book - esp Stecyk's - are an added bonus, key to understanding just where these photos come from; yeah, a picture is worth a thousand words, blah blah, but in this case, like your peanut butter in my chocolate, both are the better for it: to know who the photographer Glen E Friedman is, no matter how tangentially, enables us ever so slightly to look through his eyes and start, suddenly, to see.
Book Description
The first African American fraternities and sororities were established at the turn of the twentieth century to encourage leadership, racial pride, and academic excellence among black college students confronting the legacy of slavery and the indignities of Jim Crow segregation. Black Greek-letter organizations were also created to foster a sense of community among African American students on college campuses, and among their ranks are legendary artists, politicians, theologians, inventors, intellectuals, educators, civil rights leaders, and athletes. Nikki Giovanni, Cornel West, Martin Luther King Jr., Shaquille O'Neal, Toni Morrison, Bill Cosby, and W.E.B. DuBois are all members of black fraternities and sororities, and these groups continue to have a strong presence on campuses today. Offering a comprehensive overview of the historical, cultural, political, and social circumstances that propelled the creation of these groups, this collection of original essays references the profound contributions that black Greek-letter organizations and their members have made to American history. The contributors also examine current black Greek life and culture, addressing issues such as hazing and branding that are, perhaps unfairly, often at the forefront of discussions about these organizations. African American Fraternities and Sororities is the authoritative history of these influential and sometimes controversial organizations.
Customer Reviews:
Good, but unbalanced. Worth the read........2005-08-09
Good book for what its worth.
Not necessarily original in its approach nor is the writing spectacular in quality, but a worthy effort. However, the reviews given thus far ring slightly cult-like thus making the subject text be even more like propaganda.
Take for example a text authored by a Liberterian touting the triumphs and general good points of a political administration/era and its policies. Then, display positive reviews from other like-minded indiviguals. Right or wrong they believe in their world view, tactics and 'cultural' norms. No one would accept however that they give an unbiased opinion of the book and its subject matter. It is believed that the reviews presented thus far on this text are in the same vein. Biased and lacking the true objectivity that history/sociology/anthropology/the social sciences demand.
Speaking as a member of Omega Psi Phi (SP88), I know that my group is not perfect and neither are the others. This text presents an overall history that focuses on the positive for the most part without equally addressing what needs to be done to keep these organizations relevant, safe and non-elitist.
Also, the claim that "Africa" has been preserved and perpetuated in the rituals, public accounts, and service projects of BGLOs is a little far fetched. Yes, we can draw similarities to any 'tribal' group's rituals. The same things that are reported to be of African tradition can be found in the traditions of Native American groups in North and South America. Ask any real African (especially a scholar/ professor of African History from any of the various countries of West Africa) about your group's rituals and the possible relationship to "Mother Africa" and they will most likely laugh as these groups have been approximating at best or truly making it up at the worst as they go along post Emancipation Proclamation. But this can be further studied and confirmed at a good University Library or even at a facility like Moorland Spingarn reading room at Howard University.
If you are thinking of joining (pledging is illegal in BGLOs!)
1. Read this book, but make sure you also:
2. Learn and get your intended group's history directly from the National Offices of these great groups. Member's as well.
3. Intake is the law of the land. M.I.P.(Membership Intake Process. 'Skating' is a term of the past. Pledging, hazing and the like are all illegal [Note-I pledged under and above ground and hard. No one has to anymore. Anyone who tells you different is weak and a traitor to the rules/laws and spirit of the BGLO]. Each hazing incident places our organizations in jeopardy as each incident is a potential law suit. So, if hazed:
"Hazing" refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. Go to stophazing.org for more.
Then sue our groups(they are worth millions ???,$$$,$$$.00) until the lesson is learned and all members and chapters conduct themselves with honor and live up to their potential.
4. Read the following to receive a more objective, perhaps not complete picture of BGLOs:
Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities by Walter M. Kimbrough
Black Haze: Violence, Sacrifice, and Manhood in Black Greek-Letter Fraternities (African American Studies) by Ricky L. Jones
Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking (Library Binding)
by Hank Nuwer
Best Non-Fiction Book about AA Fraternities and Sororities.......2005-08-08
I plan to write a more in depth review at a later date but I must mention immediately how very impressed I was with "African American Fraternities And Sororities: The Legacy And The Vision." This is a hardcover book that I plan to keep in my family for years to come. The authors did great research for the book and it's very detailed. I'm pleased and impressed. One day I will write much more, but being that it's summer I am very busy. I did want to share with the world just how great I think this book is. It's worth every penny and then some.
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler
Webmaster SororitySister. net
Author of Be My Sorority Sister
A piece for every black greek.......2005-08-05
This is the most extensive work I have ever read on Black Greek-Letter Organizations. There are other works out there, but this book has managed to capture the true essence of us and our significance. The contributors to this book touched on just about every topic imaginable, so to me, anyone from old-school greeks, to new-school ones can relate. The authors do an exceptional job of tracing the origins of BGLOs back to Africa with the customs, rituals, dances, etc. They also do a remarkable job explaining what issues were facing not only BGLO's, but black people in general at the time. There was some information in the book I already knew, but there was so much more that I never knew existed, and seeing it for the first time is indeed a blessing. There was so much knowledge gained from this book from start to finish, for one, because the authors did their research, and because they touched on issues rarely touched. It shows much of an influence BGLOs have and will continue to have in the future.
A Quilt of Pride.......2005-04-15
I found this book mesmerizing as the author quilted together the prideful yet powerful legacy of the black college experience. What a detailed and delicately woven masterpeice! A must read for my daughters as they depart for college.
Please support the Legacy and the Vision.......2005-02-19
African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision is a book celebrating a wonderful aspect of the college experience for African Americans. It doesn't matter which organization you belong to, this book is dedicated to you. I highly recommend this book and I agree it's about time a nice tasteful book is brought to the forefront commemorating OUR history....not only during black history month, but 365 days a year. Applause!
Book Description
Taking Emerson as his starting point, Cornel West’s basic task in this ambitious enterprise is to chart the emergence, development, decline, and recent resurgence of American pragmatism. John Dewey is the central figure in West’s pantheon of pragmatists, but he treats as well such varied mid-century representatives of the tradition as Sidney Hook, C. Wright Mills, W. E. B. Du Bois, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Lionel Trilling. West’s "genealogy" is, ultimately, a very personal work, for it is imbued throughout with the author’s conviction that a thorough reexamination of American pragmatism may help inspire and instruct contemporary efforts to remake and reform American society and culture.
Customer Reviews:
Cornel West's Prophetic Pragmatism.......2007-05-04
Cornel West has achieved public recognition as an intellectual activist, speaker, and writer on African-American studies and on black theology. He was one of a small number of University Professors -- those who are authorized to teach beyond Departmental boundaries -- at Harvard until 2001, when he took a position at Princeton. Although his PhD is in philosophy, West's philosophical studies are less well-known than is his social activism. But his early book, "The American Evasion of Philosophy: A Genealogy of Pragmatism" (1989) is an impressive study of the history of a distinctly American movement in philosophy. The book covers a broad terrain, from philosophy to literary criticism to politics and social activism. The book includes much that is insightful in its exposition of major American thinkers, some material that is suggestive, and other material that may be provocative, if slapdash.
As the title suggests, a major theme of West's book is the manner in which American pragmatism "evades" philosophy. West argues that American philosophy does so by avoiding the Cartesian epistemological questions of representationalism (relationship between subject and object) that have been the bane of Western thought. West further argues that pragmatism "evades" philosophy by focusing on relations of social structure and power rather than mere intellectualizing. Finally, for West, pragmatism "evades" philosophy by focusing on the human subject, including particularly "constraints that reinforce and reproduce hierarchies based on class, race, gender, and sexual orientation." (p. 4)
West begins his study with an excellent discussion of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Many scholars have discussed the relationship between Emerson's transcendentalism and pragmatism. West gives a thougtful analysis, focusing on Emerson's individualism, forward-looking vision and hope for a developing participatory American democracy. But West also sees Emerson as a representative of a modestly racist and hierarchical society bound too tightly, West argues, to middle-class American values and too little inclusivie of women, African-Americans, immigrants, Indians, and other people.
West then proceeds through the early pragmatists, Charles Peirce and William James in treatments that are sympathetic but short. The philosopher that receives the greatest attention in the book is John Dewey with his instrumentalism and social and political concerns. James and Peirce had little direct to say about social issues, while Dewey, with his background in Hegel and in Darwin, tried to foster community involvement and empowerment, through finding an appropriate method to address and circumvent specific problems rather than through the use of philosophical abstractions.
West offers intruiging discussions of five thinkers who are not often grouped together, Dewey's student Sidney Hook, the sociologist C. Wright Mills, the African American scholar and activist W.E.B DuBois, the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, and the literary critic Lionel Trilling, as he shows the different ways each of these thinkers took and modified some of the tenets of pragmatism in the middle-years of the 20th Century. I found West's exposition of these thinkers helpful even though I have serious doubts about West's philosophical direction.
West returns to contemporary American philosophy in his treatment of the works of Quine and Richard Rorty, and he all-too-briefly discusses the views of radical thinkers including Roberto Unger and Foucault.
Throughout the book, West argues for what he terms a prophetic pragmatism which continues the non-Cartesian character of the pragmatic project but informs it for West with a social analysis that recognizes the claims of those West claims are exluded from full participation in American democracy -- African Americans, women, the poor, to have their voices heard. West's position has strong components of Marxism and of radical theology in addition to pragmatism. To me, West does not explain how these theories fit together or their relationship to pragmatism. He also does little to persuade the reader about the value of Marxism or, for that matter, of the value of his form of theology but rather seems to thrust these teachings upon the reader. Very properly, West invokes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as his paradigmatic type of leader. As West points out, King was not a pragmatist, and the connection West sees between King and even a "prophetic pragmatism" remains undeveloped.
The main point that West makes in his discussion of American philosophy up to the time of Dewey -- that it was overly concerned with matters such as the relationship between science and religion and insufficiently attuned to social issues has been made by other writers in less polemical studies of American thought. Interested readers may want to consult Bruce Kucklick's "A History of Philosophy in America 1720-2000" and Louis Menand's famous book, "The Metaphysical Club", both of which share, in general terms, West's views of the virtues and possible shortcomings of pragmatism. For those wanting alternative but related views, there is a recent study of the idealist philosopher Josiah Royce by Frank Oppenheim, S.J., "Reverence for the Relations of Life." This book is written from a modern, idealistic perspective. Oppenheim focuses on the work of Peirce and Royce, rather than Dewey, and describes them in terms of "prophetic pragmatism" due to their openness to spirituality in human life and to the attempt in Royce's case, to argue for the creation of a "beloved community" -- the term later adopted by Martin Luther King as the benchmark for a just and humane society.
Robin Friedman
Excellent, Highly Subtle Book........2004-05-20
This is an excellent, highly subtle book. It is interesting and persuasive on the American pragmatists, there are especially interesting comments on Dewey and Peirce, who are new to me, but equally perceptive judgments and assessments of such major thinkers as Roberto Unger and Michel Foucault.
As with anything written by Professor West, the vibes in the prose are powerful and mixed: the rythms of jazz and subtle tones of Harvard-accented English (yes, there is such a thing!), blend smoothly with more familiar idioms to render the scholarly assessments, at least for me, MORE and NOT LESS vital and organic.
The passion for empowered democracy comes through here, as it always does with West, and so does the Christian sentiment. I would say that there is in this excellent book a bit of the Christian Romanticism that Professor West attributes to Unger.
Fine book, let us hope for more from Professor West.
Nice try, if you're an undergraduate.......2002-11-15
Nothing I could say about this book would be as compelling as reading an excerpt from it. Any excerpt. The writing lumbers with precisely that kind of late adolescent turgidity and overweaning insistence that makes reading undergraduate papers so unbearable; the argument is nothing more than a series of unsupported and simple-minded generalities; the depth of scholarship reaches about as far as the water in a children's wading pool. The only thing this forgettable little book establishes is that Cornel West knows as little about pragmatism as he does about effective writing. But as I said, don't take my word for it. Read the excerpt and see for yourself.
Disappointing.......2001-10-21
AS a reader intimately interested in pragmatism I came to this book in anticipated expectancy. Unfortunately Cornel West has managed to write something I could scarcely credit: a book which makes pragmatism and pragmatists seem turgid and boring. I think this is primarily because West's own interests seem always to be overpowering his descriptions of the pragmatists he is writing about. West wants to write a manifesto but he has dressed it up as a genealogy. Unfortunately for this reader the clothes don't fit properly and what is presented seems vaguely ridiculous. I don't mean to be rude. Apparently in the States West is something of an intellectual celebrity who writes on matters of race and religion. In my own locality West is unknown and his agenda seems just as foreign. His idea of pragmatism as "cultural criticism" is the one bright spark in this book that I will take away from it. However, as his interests and mine are doomed to be forever different the lasting impression this book leaves is one of a writer over-intellectualising what is meant to be a philosophy of plain common-sense. Sorry Cornel, we just didn't hit it off.
What made him famous.......2001-01-21
I found myself wondering, after arriving at Harvard, how Cornel West achieved such a high position in academic circles. For example, he is a University Professor, which simply put means he can teach at any school or department at Harvard University. His current works deal primarily with race and though they are extremely illuminating, they are more popular than academic. This is the book that put West at the height of Academia, Race Matters made him publicly popular. I suggest you read both in order to get into the mind of perhaps the most publicly influential intellectual of the last 5 years.
Average customer rating:
- A new beginning
- A Promethean Study of Race
- DuBois' Ideas Are Still Revalent in Contemporary America
- An Honest Book
- A "publishing event," not a book
|
The Future of the Race
Henry Louis Jr Gates , and
Cornel West
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| 21st Century
| African Americans
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Similar Items:
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Race Matters
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Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Man
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Colored People: A Memoir
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The Cornel West Reader
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America Behind the Color Line: Dialogues with African Americans
ASIN: 0679763783
Release Date: 1997-01-14 |
Amazon.com
In a ground-breaking collaboration, and taking the great W.E.B. Du Bois as their model, two of our foremost African-American intellectual address the dreams, fears, aspirations, and responsibilities of the black community--especially the black elite--on the eve of the twenty-first century.
Book Description
Almost one-hundred years ago, W.E.B. Du Bois proposed the notion of the "talented tenth," an African American elite that would serve as leaders and models for the larger black community. In this unprecedented collaboration, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Cornel West--two of Du Bois's most prominent intellectual descendants--reassess that relationship and its implications for the future of black Americans. If the 1990s are the best of times for the heirs of the Talented Tenth, they are unquestionably worse for the growing black underclass. As they examine the origins of this widening gulf and propose solutions for it, Gates and West combine memoir and biography, social analysis and cultural survey into a book that is incisive and compassionate, cautionary and deeply stirring.
"Today's most public African American intellectual voices...West and Gates have made a valuable contribution."--Julian Bond, Philadelphia Inquirer
"Brilliant...a social, cultural and political blueprint...that attempts to illumine the future path for blacks and American democracy."--New York Daily News
"Henry Louis Gates., Jr., and Cornel West are among the most renowned American intellectuals of our time."--New York Times Book Review
Customer Reviews:
A new beginning.......2006-12-28
I have said it before but for give me, I am a West Reader. This was the first West/Gates piece I read when I was in high school. It started my love for social science learning. The book not only is a piece of great insight on DuBois' "The Talented Tenth and Guidging Hundreth" but follows up on the topic with more indepth information on leadership in the African American race. Reading it once will leave you stuck, in order to really get a real of what the words mean you must read it over and over and study it to see what DuBois was saying years ago and how West and Gates assists him in showing the need for leadership in the African American race.
A Promethean Study of Race.......2003-02-18
In two visionary essays on the modern validity of W.E.B. Du Bois' "The Talented Tenth," Professors Gates and West have collaborated on a book that will enlighten anyone interested in race relations in America for years to come. To summarize "The Future of the Race" does not do it justice. Suffice it to say that the scholarship of these "three" learned men elevates the topic of race to higher ground. If you are looking for an easy read, or easy answers to racial issues, this book is not for you. On the other hand, if you dare to examine your own feelings about racism, I can't think of a better way to begin than by reading this book. I disagree with the reviewer from Chapel Hill who described the book as the "patter' of "public intellectuals." It's too easy to dismiss scholarly works as a product of academia, but thanks to intellectual giants like Du Bois, the essays of Gates and West have been made possible. Thank you, professors.
DuBois' Ideas Are Still Revalent in Contemporary America.......2002-12-07
This book picks apart the ideas of the most influential black scholar of the 20th century, W. E. B. DuBois. Gates and West talk of about the situation in black America and how black Americans should go about changing the poverty stricken race through DuBois' idea of the talented tenth. The Talented Tenth is the idea that the top 10% of a race will help save the rest of the race. West and Gates show how this idea can be a solution to many problems in the black community but they also talk of the problems that occur within the talented tenth. In this landmark publication, West and Gates, the top black modern scholars, come together to create a powerful book that lays out the truth for blacks in America.
An Honest Book.......2000-04-06
I've always enjoyed reading and listening to Cornel West, his ideas and observations are honest, regardless of public reaction. Maybe I enjoyed the book because I didn't compare the authors to Du Bois, I took them for who they are, modern day intellectuals. I found even the preface intriguing. There's a powerful observation in the preface that has been sitting heavily on my heart, "Being a leader does not necessarily mean being loved; loving ones community means daring to risk estrangement and alienation from that very community..." This is something we deal with on a daily basis in the black community, we're afraid to do the right thing because we're preoccupied with "keeping it real." Like I said, I appreciate the honesty from both authors and I would suggest this book to anyone interested in the present state of Black America. (But don't solely look to them to nurse the ills that plague our community, just meditate on their observations, the answers come when we put our heads together). Thanks.
A "publishing event," not a book.......1999-12-25
The essays here are fairly good, although anyone familiar with the authors will have heard a lot of the patter before. And the piece by W.E.B. Du Bois--why is that in here? The implicit comparison that Gates and West make of themselves and Dr. Du Bois is absurd. One difference between these men and Du Bois is clear: he never published fluff. Again and again, Du Bois gave us original, groundbreaking scholarship. It has been many years since either of these brilliant gentlemen has offered anything of the kind. But that's the fate of "public intellectuals," apparently--they become more and more public, and less and less intellectual. There is not much here.
Amazon.com
n Democracy Matters, Cornel West's follow-up to 1993's Race Matters, the author's diagnosis of the state of modern American democracy is grim. The institution suffers, he says, from what he calls free market fundamentalism, aggressive militarism and escalating authoritarianism, forces that put a stranglehold on efforts to achieve better social and political results on a global scale. These systemic problems exist simultaneous to a pervading sense of nihilism throughout the American corridors of power, West contends, making lawmakers feel that they are inherently virtuous because they are so powerful and accepting a system they know to be unjust, while the press sacrifices truth and insight in pursuit of a sentimental story. Along the way, West makes extensive use of literary and historical parallels, employing Alexis de Tocqueville, Herman Melville, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Toni Morrison and others, with grea! t efficacy for the most part, to illustrate his points. West's prescription calls for a path toward a style of Christianity more in keeping with what he sees as true Christian ideals as well as a greater enfranchisement and understanding of young people and youth culture. West has a lot to say and the vast scope of West's arguments could be construed in at least a couple of ways: either he boldly takes on the enormity inherent to the topic of democracy, or he loses his way and attempts to touch on too wide a swath of topics while rarely going into sufficient detail on any of them. Besides being a provocative author, West is a highly respected professor and Democracy Matters reads something like a university lecture sounds: often insightful, occasionally disjointed, periodically obtuse, and sometimes brilliant. But in the ongoing effort to establish a better democracy, Professor West's perspective is highly instructive. --John Moe
Book Description
In his major bestseller, Race Matters, philosopher Cornel West burst onto the national scene with his searing analysis of the scars of racism in American democracy. Race Matters has become a contemporary classic, still in print after ten years, having sold more than four hundred thousand copies. A mesmerizing speaker with a host of fervidly devoted fans, West gives as many as one hundred public lectures a year and appears regularly on radio and television. Praised by The New York Times for his "ferocious moral vision" and hailed by Newsweek as "an elegant prophet with attitude," he bridges the gap between black and white opinion about the country's problems.
In Democracy Matters, West returns to the analysis of the arrested development of democracy-both in America and in the crisis-ridden Middle East. In a strikingly original diagnosis, he argues that if America is to become a better steward of democratization around the world, we must first wake up to the long history of imperialist corruption that has plagued our own democracy. Both our failure to foster peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the crisis of Islamist anti-Americanism stem largely from hypocrisies in our dealings with the world. Racism and imperial expansionism have gone hand in hand in our country's inexorable drive toward hegemony, and our current militarism is only the latest expression of that drive. Even as we are shocked by Islamic fundamentalism, our own brand of fundamentalism, which West dubs Constantinian Christianity, has joined forces with imperialist corporate and political elites in an unholy alliance, and four decades after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., insidious racism still inflicts debilitating psychic pain on so many of our citizens.
But there is a deep democratic tradition in America of impassioned commitment to the fight against imperialist corruptions-the last great expression of which was the civil rights movement led by Dr. King-and West brings forth the powerful voices of that great democratizing tradition in a brilliant and deeply moving call for the revival of our better democratic nature. His impassioned and provocative argument for the revitalization of America's democracy will reshape the terms of the raging national debate about America's role in today's troubled world.
Customer Reviews:
West disappoints again.......2007-09-15
I'll be honest, I've never been able to understand the level of academic success Cornel West has been able to achieve over the years. I read "Race Matters" as a senior in high school and found it to be a somewhat half-hearted and ultimately trite examination of what at times can be a very serious problem in our country - racial relations. Having had seven years of education since reading "Race Matters" I feel even more comfortable denouncing West as something of an intellectual hack. My criticism of West is not a mere "polemic against the left," as some reviewers have claimed. I am a liberal, but I can honestly say I have never met an (in my opinion) intelligent liberal who has thought Cornel West has contributed anything truly worthwhile to the racial dialogue. This is not to say if you liked his book you are an idiot. But I've always been concerned that West's writing resonates with the same demographic of liberalism that, for example, considers Al Sharpton to be a meaningful black leader.
West's writing to me always displays the worst of academia: using big words to paint broad concepts but never truly drawing any actual conclusions. In a book called "Democracy Matters," West never takes the time to explain or define what he really means by "democracy." Is it free speech and open dialogue? Elected government? Personal involvement in the political process? All of these? Without a more specific explanation, I had a difficult time understanding what precisely it was about democracy that mattered, since democracy is, after all, a complex concept with multiple variations and meanings. In the end I felt like I'd just read through 200-pages of a George Bush speech, which is to say: democracy = good.
Reading the book I was also struck by the extent to which Cornel West is essentially a racist - or "Afro-centrist," if you prefer the more patronizing term. I do not exaggerate when I say every other paragraph had a reference to either the hegemony imposed by white males over various demographics of American society or the manner in which black-specific contributions to American culture (ie, jazz or Toni Morrison) are the true reflection of democracy. I believe both that white men have exercised an oppressive dominance over American society and that black culture has offered much to the American experience, but neither to the extent West does. A good but benign example is when West refers to Tavis Smiley as the political voice of my generation. I respect Tavis Smiley very much, but it is pretty well accepted that it is in fact Jon Stewart, a mere white man, who is the political voice of my generation. In the end I found this overpromotion of black America off-putting and self-serving, distracting from what should otherwise have been an examination of the importance of "democracy" (however you define it to be).
I also found it to be incredibly self-serving on the part of West to dedicate a significant portion of one chapter - and I kid you not - to essentially gripe about how Lawrence Summers was mean to him at Harvard. Their famous exchange may have deserved an off-handed mention in a paragraph, possibly two, particularly to illuminate West's point about opening a racial dialogue in America through all mediums accessible (rap CDs, you see, are one such medium, while scholarly journals are not). But to dedicate page after page to the incident not only distracted from the true focus of the book, but also came off as childish.
I can guess by the low ratings that negative reviews have garnered on Amazon that this review will not be received favorably. I hope people will understand that this is intended to be an honest examination of the book and not an opportunity to put down Professor West. Despite having little respect for his intellectual acumen, I purchased and approached this book with my best effort at an open mind, hoping to be convinced that West's supposed brilliance would in fact be merited. But in the end I walked away with the conviction that my friends' appraisal of West is in fact the correct one, and that he is riding off the (undeserved) goodwill of liberal America, rather than any sort of meaningful continued contribution to the racial dialogue.
Audio CD: Concentrate to follow.......2007-08-03
I've heard professor West speak on TV on many occasions (Tony Browns Journal) and enjoy his conversation style. Listening to him on this CD was more difficult than I'd expected... reading his own words sometimes losses some of the natural emphasis. The content of this book is exceptional, though, and makes the book 'a keeper'. I'd like to see more books published by Dr. West... he has a lot of truth to tell... and all we have to do is open our ears and minds and listen.
Personal tastes of Cornel West.......2007-04-28
This book is a brilliantly written analysis of racism and democracy in America. My one complaint, and the reason I didn't add that fifth star, is that West incorporates his personal tastes- his love of jazz and the blues, and his fondness for the writings of Toni Morrison- as integral to an understanding of democracy.
As someone who hates jazz and who thought Morrison's Beloved was overwritten and preachy, I find it hard to believe that I have turned my back on two forms of art which promote democracy. Literature and music are what they are...I'm glad West gets such pleasure from these art forms, but I would have preferred more history and less promotion of them. When West sticks to historical fact, and his analysis of it, he is unsurpassed.
democracy matters= thought provoking.......2007-04-05
I just finished reading Democracy Matters by Dr. Cornel West. I actually got the opportunity to meet Dr. Wset and have him personally sign my book while he was on tour with Tavis Smiley promoting the Covenant in Action book.
As for the book, itself, it really helps deine what democracy is and how we as a nation have not yet reached the point of democracy. As Dr. West puts it we are nihilistic meaning that we are people of being or existence. This is a true statement; he also goes on to say how are judegemental of others. If we are truly a nation that deals with democracy then we would treat our people with respect, etc. Read the book, I think overall anyone who enjoys history, or a decent philosophical read but WITHOUT the use of BIG words then this is a book for you.
West in Search for Democracy.......2007-02-26
In essence, Cornel West appeals to the democratic traditions of the USA as part of effort to inspire resistance to the antidemocratic forces raging within the body of the Republic. For him the question is whether we yield to the authoritarian forces begotten of plutocracy, racism and imperialism, or whether we can "revitalize our democratic fires" to insure that the nation can enjoy a new birth of freedom, equality and justice.
Frankly, I think he ought to have focused more criticisms on the limitations of our "deep democratic tradtiions" especially in light of his own observations that "the enslavement of Africans and imperial expansion over indigenous people and their lands were undeniable preconditions for the possibility of American democracy."
Far from being "too left" of center, I felt that perhaps he didn't go far enough. His analysis might have gone further in exposing the hard core of plutocracy within the form of the Republic. Just how democratic is "our democracy"? Must we not rethink the very meaning of democracy. A think that a deeper and more radical idea and practice of democracy is needed than his analysis. And I think that this need is implied by his analysis without being clearly stated.
Unfortunately, I cannot explain all this here. But I have a more thoroughgoing review (which West personally thanked me for despite my criticisms) which I can share with anyone who's interested.
West deeply cherished out democratic values, and the tradition of creative dissent without which we would be a lot poorer, and a far more repressive society. He sees himself in the tradition of Emerson even though (as a social critic) I would view him more in line Melville. (Emerson and Melville being for him the twin cultural founders of America's democratic traditions).
Though West sometimes speaks too uncritically of "our democracy", he does not simplistically equate the American status quo with the essence of democracy. Very importantly, he understands that democracy is "more a verb than a noun" and "is more a dynamic striving and collective movement than a static order or stationary status quo." It is a "cultural way of being." In short, democracy is praxis--and a communal achievement rather than the idiocy of privatized life.
As for those who think West is too "leftist," I can assure you that today is basically a "moderate" leftist. I've known him for over twnety years, and I assure you he is FAR more moderate than myself.
Now, I would like to commend Bryan Bugham and Ted Steele for trying to wrestle with Democracy Matters with a bit of intellectual honesty and interest. That's a refreshing turn from much of the uncritical praise or unthinking rejection and condemnation from some commentators here.
For the authors of the reviews entitled "Democracy Matters, this book does not" and "Walking Contradiction", I would like to point out that simple dismissal hardly counts as rebuttal. It is somewhat juvenile to dismiss a philosopher's ideas with a silly quote from mentally light weight politician. And ad Hominem references to an author's address or income hardly are irrelevant if not also dishonest.
In fact, such "criticisms" are examples of the impoverishing of national discourse and dialogue which West rightly sees as a threat to the future of democracy. At least take time to read and study the book you wish to review.
Book Description
"This collection of writings, drawn from a wide variety of sources, reveals the intellectual depth and breadth of the author. The articles include political commentary, cultural critique, literary analysis, extended book reviews, and even a short story by West. All of these are held together by a prophetic Afro-American Christian perspective. The value of this book is that it provides easy access to a significant selection of the author's corpus." --Religious Studies Review (October 1989) "This volume collects over 50 articles, book reviews, and addresses by a Union Seminary theologian . . . . The most eloquent pieces are those in which West explains and interprets his more personally felt tradition of Afro-American Protestantism." -- Library Journal
Customer Reviews:
Revolutionary Christianity.......2005-04-22
West's books is an eye-opening account of racism since modernity and a proposed response. He begins with an account of modernity and proceeds to an insightful genealogy of racism. Racism, he claims, comes from a combination of an emphasis on science, Cartesian philosophy, and Greek thought and aesthetics. West then turns attention to four common African American responses to the problem, highlighting humanism as the preferable option. Finally, West spends 2 chapters arguing for a combination of Christian and Marxist perspectives for a revolutionary Christianity.
There is no doubt that West is brilliant, articulate, and passionate. His diagnosis of the problems of racism and modernity are indespensible. The reason the book only receives 4 stars is that I am not sure Marxism is the correct choice for Christians. Without a doubt, Marxist thought provides insights Christians need. However, it seems to me that another political system will bring about more problems. I suggest that the church itself is political, so Christians need not seek out another source of more effective political thought. The church, when it functions as it ought, is all that is needed to reform society.
Intellectually and Spiritually Inspiring.......2003-05-22
I read this book for the first time as a young graduate student! It was one of the most exciting books I had read at the time. It's fine combination of intellectual insight and grounding in the best of the prophetic Christian tradition did more to help shape my religious imagination than many other books I have read before or since.
Book Description
Sylvia Ann Hewlett, a white feminist, and Cornel West, a black human rights activist, join in a rare partnership to address the burning social issue of our time: the abandonment of America's parents. A "brave and personal book" (New York Post), The War Against Parents calls for a Parents' bill of Rights that gives new dignity to the parental role and restores our nation's commitment to the well-being of children.
Customer Reviews:
This is not the 1950's!!!!.......2005-12-22
For all those who would criticize mothers for working outside of the home, and for wanting schools and workplaces to be more family-friendly, try to remember that this is not the 1950's! Most mothers simply CANNOT afford to stay home with their children, and NO, it is not because us working mothers are materialistic, greedy, and value work over our children! I find it awfully convenient how the women who like to attack working mothers for not staying home with their children, and who like to say, "Well, I can afford to stay home, so they can too", are always the ones who have husbands with good jobs earning $40,000-$50,000+ a year.
My husband brings home about $1,500 a month from his job after taxes, medical insurance, etc. is taken out. Tell me how a family of four can live off $1,500 a month, with having to pay for rent, utilities, food, clothes, prescriptions (my husband has diabetes, and my daughter has asthma, eczema, and allergies), etc? If I quit working, we would starve. I work full-time so my family can eat, and have a roof over our heads, NOT so we can live in a huge house, drive two new cars, or go on expensive vacations. My family and I live in a rented, 1960's era condo in a working-class suburb. We shop at discount stores such as Marc's and Wal-Mart for our food. We buy all our clothes through end of the season clearance sales. We've been on one vacation in the past 10 years. We have one vehicle, and an older one at that. We are hardly living it up while our children languish in daycare.
And yes, besides just the outdated attitudes of some parents, our schools and workplaces are stuck in the 1950's as well! I can't tell you how many times I've been criticized and punished by bosses at different jobs for having to take time off from work when my children are sick, or have days off from school, etc. My daughter is in the second grade, and I calculated that between summer vacation, Easter/Christmas vacations, other holidays, teacher in service days, etc, that she only goes to school 8 months out of each year. I am constantly scrambling to find care for her during her time off, and I know that there are millions of other working parents in the same situation.
This book is right on target.
The War Against Parents - a review.......2005-11-15
If you are one of the politically hard-over types --left or right-- don't bother buying this book. This book is really for the open minded reader who is looking for an analytical and cautious approach to what ails us as a nation.
Systematically Cornell and Hewlett do that. They look at what worked in the past (when families seemed to be working for adults and children), and how that has changed to get us where we are today (latch key kids, high child suicide rates, high pregnancy rates). They point fingers at the far left and at the far right. They look at myth and truth and how often it is hard to discern which is which.
Some reviewers say they are liberal. Perhaps. But not so it matters. They certainly don't find much good to say about the programs of LBJ's Great Society, nor liberal divorce policies. Plus they argue for the importance of religion and parent-in-charge strategies in regards to child rearing, voting, and generally participating in society.
Four stars. If you are hard-over one way or another politically, ignore their arguments and just look at the data that Cornell and Hewlett have collected, then make up your own mind.
For the rest of you, this is a conscientious book that attempts to take a broad look at the problems that ail the American family today.
I did not receive this book.......2005-10-09
I had no way of contacking you, but I did not receive this book; I believe that that this book went to the wrong address. My address is not what you have on line.
Neither liberal nor conservative.......2002-08-06
This book walks a hazardous line, neither liberal nor conservative, and it infuriates some and baffles others who insist on familiar dichotomies.
There's a litmus test for prospective readers, however: if you think parents should be as politically powerful as the AARP, read this book, and anything written or edited by either Hewlett or West. If you think current disparities between the top and bottom deciles in socioeconomic status in the U.S are about right, don't.
Parental Paranoia Running Rampant.......1999-12-04
This book operates on the premise that the government and corporations are intentionally victimizing people for their parental status and that parents should be a protected class.
This seems rather paranoid considering that multiple tax breaks are given for children and their needs, and family leave policies insure that parents receive the most comprehensive leave benefits of any group of workers.
The book also ignores how parents are treated as a special class by the government and workforce, receiving more support from those two institutions than their childless counterparts.
Strange book. I just don't buy into the author's victim mentality.
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- Rising Sun
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- The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes
- The Color Purple
- The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural: (Newbery Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Author Award, ALA Notable Children's Boo k) (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner)
- The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children
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