Dr. Cornel West Lectures Matt Bai On Tavis Smiley

[Sitwest123]

if cornell west knows so much....why dont he run for president and shut the hell up

[smitblow]

This man is a GENIUS ! ! BRAVO DOC.

[jslug3]

page 371069, you are entitled to your opinion, but how can you deny that there is still inequality economically,financially,and education wise in this supposedly "free" society?

You keep and many like you think that blacks just woke up with this problem.

Hell, If it wasn't for y'all greed, you would be justified for your comments, but it is not.

We did not denied anyone their history or freedom has we?

Don't come with that lame excuse I did not enslave your people and that BS.

[jslug3]

@jslug3

To continue, I am fed up with all this denial and we suppose to be a diverse country, when this country was built on a hateful nature.

You and others like minded individuals are so quick to say, "Go back to Africa " as a sad joke and show y'all poor judgment for words.

If it was that simple don't you think we will go back?

I for one would catch the first thing smoking back to my ancestral land, but powers that be would think that ass backwards and can't allow that.

[page371069]

OH God.....Stop blaming white people. That state of the black community is the fault of blacks.

[jipoku]

@page371069 Every sociological study that takes up the issue of race [proves over and over again that it is a persistent problem. For black and white job applicants with te same resume, whites are hired at a much higher rate. Blacks with similar criminal histories get longer sentences than thier white counterparts. Even among black people, the darker the skin the longer the sentences. I think jobs and the criminal justice system are two things that affect the state of teh black community,

[torr5962]

Your comments may be true, but one can't say that things have not improved incredibly every decade since 1963. I think it does no one any good to think that the system is impossibly stacked due to race. West and Smiley are two that have made it via persistence, hard work, and good contacts. Both West and Smiley claim to be anti-establishment, yet they both deny that the apathy that exists in any community can hold you back more than the establishment.

[Bakuninite87]

do you see the white boy throwin' the baphomet?

[treestar]

@Bakuninite87 ...when?

[phoenixchi28]

cornell west - such a brilliant mind !!! why dont people like this ever run for office?

[akimali]

@phoenixchi28 I LOVE to listen to Cornel West talk. Absolutely brilliant! And there is the problem. He is TOO brilliant for politics and he already knows that he would be a very small pawn in a very big game that his brilliance wouldn't effect or would effect very little. I wish that weren't the case though because this man needs to be the president!

[afacetiousguy]

Dissapointing post Bob. I held alot of respect for you to be able to keep an open mind and throw the racist movements aside: thus putting pure logical thought process in the front. This was pure "Trailer Trash" posting that held no merit to the advancement of our human race.

[afacetiousguy]

@afacetiousguy My apoligies.. I did not realize that this was referenced from another page.. you all keep your racist thoughts going. I will not visit you anymore.

[thechapelofchrist]

i wish obama was able to accomplish more but republicans still have power and they are not only winning but blaming obama for it....and the people are buying it! i feel like i'm fighting a flood with a childs sand bucket and shovel getting people to see through the cloud of lies.

[thejuryissleepless]

Word is BORN SON!

[knightschwartz]

Whites are responcible for black crime and black poverty. Whites owe blacks reparations. We need more discrimination against white people!

[aloofbooks]

Tell it Cornell !

[halflifeproductionz]

why the fuck doesn't he run for senate?

[celestialnubian]

@halflifeproductionz

Dr. West won't run for office because politicians are whores.

[mamacornettesmoney]

@halflifeproductionz NO WAY this racist clown wins a Senate seat. Representative seat in a majority black district, maybe. there are plenty of racist blacks to vote for him. But the Senate is "the old boys club". He wouldn't kiss ass like Obama to make it into the Senate. His color would keep the racist whites against him & his racist, close minded rhetoric would keep the middle of the road voters against him and he would have a VERY hard time getting political support.

[halflifeproductionz]

@mamacornettesmoney your saying cornel west is a racist black?

[AveolarD]

broke whitey down, now fall back.

[kevcas73]

@AveolarD if whitey needs to fall back, then fine, good.  But not in this case. Read the article and watch the full video, my friend.

Respect

[kevcas73]

I wonder how many of you actually read Mr. Bai article. this video cuts off right where Mr. Bai reminds Dr West that his article touched on all those points mentioned by Dr West to which Dr West simply smiles and the conversation moves on, I am a huge fan of Dr. West and his message but his "lecture" of Matt Bai is misplaced. You c

[mamacornettesmoney]

@kevcas73 West is always like that. He's narrow minded and only hears and sees what he wants to. Holding a clown like this up as a serious intellectual is foolish. IMO. He's a personality and is wrapped up in his own rhetoric. he seems lost, to me.

[mrknowledgeispower1]

@mamacornettesmoney I can tell you're an American, Americans are not use to seeing smart people on television.

[mamacornettesmoney]

@mrknowledgeispower1 LMAO! What a completely ignorant statement. Way to be brainwashed. Cornel West is a clown. I didn't say he wasn't "smart". He's just biased, prejudiced and extremely close-minded. Like many "black scholars", he is more interested in style over substance. More interested in proving his biased opinions, facts and logic be damned, than in actually advancing any real learning.

BTW, there are plenty of smart Americans, just as there are plenty idiots from all around the world.

[mrknowledgeispower1]

@mamacornettesmoney If Mr. Cornel West is all those things you say he is, then why is he regarded as one of the most brilliant men in America, so maybe you should google Cornel West. Also, I didn't understand your statement when you said he's smart, but his facts are wrong, That makes no sense, if Cornel West was just talking garbage people would have discarded him long time ago. Everything you said about CW was your opinion, not facts. I'm a fan of CW, where's your facts, be specific.

[bigollameo]

@mrknowledgeispower1

I'm an American, and I can tell you this: you're ABSOLUTELY right.

[HiRoader11]

@ezekielthemack Like I said.., Look at West, His pro-black rhetoric hasn't changed since the 60's-70's civil rights era.... On stage in front of TV cameras talking the same pro-Afro-blah, blah, blah... Since "monkey" to strong, How about poverty-pimps.., A distraction, deviation from Afghanistan, breach border, "national economy" issues... What's(google) the difference between W.E.B.Dubois & Booker T. Washington?... Then tell me, Who's the sideline commentator vs the sleeve roller....

[ezekielthemack]

@HiRoader11 I don't have to google anything like you do and if you had a quarter of Professor West's intelligence, I'd give credence to what you have to say. Unfortunately you don't, so what you have to say doesn't mean shit to me. Read more. White trash like you should be drowned at birth.

[HiRoader11]

@ezekielthemack ..Like I said... Sideline commentator.., lecturer, professor, political (democratic) analyst/ panalist... Like I said, A professor who's a lecturer & a (backseat driving) critic spouting old 60-70's activist poverty pimp rhetoric., Or a professor on the political (oval office) front line which has economy, war, border issues, then WE have something to talk about.,, If West was riding shotgun on those issues, instead of backseating w/distractions,deviations & diversions AA agendas

[ezekielthemack]

@HiRoader11 Firstly, A sideline commentator is someone whose commentaries are negligible and most people (black and white) would say there is NOTHING negligible about West's commentaries.If anything, they are just as pertinent as they were in the sixties or seventies, so your argument is flawed.If you actually followed and LISTENED to Cornel West, you would know that he has commentated on economy, war and border issues, which tells me that you know nothing of the man. You idiot.

[msscott73]

I liked what Dr. West said but i wasn't to see the whole thing. I really wanted to hear the guys response to his statement and statement which prompt Dr. West's response.

[HiRoader11]

Some one tell me.., Which one of these "monkeys" ever held any political position and actually done public service besides Pres. Obama... As a matter of fact these same "talking heads" have been on the sidelines for years.., They've never even suited up to sit the bench.. Even with this "Agenda" lets see the Smileys & West go to comptons, orleans 3rd wards, harlems & build their "Agenda" from the bottom up... ala Booker T. Washington instead of pedestal preaching Du Bois... get ur hands dirty

[Chanchowlee]

@HiRoader11 your ignorant

[HiRoader11]

@Chanchowlee What's "ignorant" is Smiley & West aren't even talking about the "same" game Pres. Obama's... Their to busy taking payoffs from the Wells Fargos & Banks of America.... They're not ranting & raving about the " Tea Party".., They're not offering any stradegy to solve the economic situation... The border breech, Afghanistan, Haiti nothing.... They're stuck in the 70's, their tune hasn't changed since civil rights... What's the difference between W.E.B.Dubois & Booker T. Washington?

[ezekielthemack]

@HiRoader11 The only monkey here is YOU you ignorant piece of white trash. When intelligent people are speaking like Professor West, a pasty cunt like you needs to listen - you WILL learn something you ignorant fuck. Now keep your mouth shut and read more you ignorant pasty prick.

[HiRoader11]

@ezekielthemack Who's the sideline commentator vs the sleeve roller....



[scarfather2001]

@guynblujeans not true. Let's keep it real(er). Do some reaserch about ancient history. All sciences come from Egypt. And who where ancient Egyptians? Nubians. The thing with white folks is they kill, and steal. Force christianity on the captives, lie and say Jesus and God is white, knowing genetically that is impossible. Look at what your forefathers had to do to keep the kidnapped africans in check. Young man, you have alot to learn about what's real and what's an illussion.

[Angelscnbsexi2]

I love Dr West....A real intellect with common sense! Wish I was able to take a course with him

[kingdom316]

preach it Dr. west

[guyNbluejeans]

Let's put it this way: These two races just don't get along very well with each other, and probably never will. And in the general sense, with respect to the positive contributions each race has brought to the table of life, Caucasians benefit very little from blacks while blacks benefit BIG TIME from Caucasians. That's the main difference, along with the never-ending black-on-Caucasian crime epidemic, of course.

Please, don't call me a racist. I'm just keeping it real.;-)

[SuperProphet100]

@guyNbluejeans

You're a stupid RACIST!

[SuperProphet100]

@guyNbluejeans

What have black benefited from whites?...Whites benefited the world from blacks...tell me?

[caz11533]

Sounds like a bunch of babies crying stop bitching and improve your personal situation, West is brilliant I wish he'd run for president and it'd be nice if just once there were a poor black man who took responsibility for the fact that he was unsuccessful in his life instead of blaming a system that gives much more assistance to the poor than the working middle class.

[MrBlackmask27]

i respect dr west ...but do he wear the same damn thing every video?!lol

[ONErudebwoy]

@MrBlackmask27 yep, he said he really doesn't spend to much time worrying about appearance.

[mikeyramone33]

the majority of violent crime in america is comitted by blacks.on average 30,000 white women are raped by black men in the u.s.(0-10 black women by whitemen) yet blacks continue to claim there is no basis in whites fear of blacks.busing destroyed many fine white schools yet blacks accept no responsibility for thier failures.amazing.

[thirdshift47]

1.)What are your sources for those 'facts?'LOL

2.)Virtually every nonwhite indigenous population of people on the planet(the de facto 'majority' of the Eath's inhabitants)have been victims of violent subjugation & mass extermination by whites;indeed,if anything it would make perfect sense for people of color the world over to have cultivated a racist pathology of fear of whites.The fact that it largely isn't the case is,indeed,amazing.

[mikeyramone33]

@thirdshift47 u.s. justice dept,fbi,u.s. national victims of crime survey.lol.yes those evil whites! curing disease ,feeding the starving,advancing science.amazing indeed.

[thirdshift47]

1.)According to the Dept.of Labor white women have ALWAYS been the primary beneficiaries of affirmative action policy.

2.)How in the hell is a group of people that comprise a cumulative 13% of the population going to pay the most into the system?LOL

[thirdshift47]

3.)Being the 1st species in the history of the universe--what with the manufacture of nuclear warheads--to set forth the conditions for the total,instant annihilation of the entire planet.

Amazing,indeed.

[mikeyramone33]

@thirdshift47 yes 13% of population.say half men? well that 6-7% of black males commit the MAJORITY of violent crime in america! think about that.its not the color of the skin but the behavior that difines the negroe.and if they pay the LEAST show some fucking gratitude,no other nation has done as much to feed negroes as the u.s.

[thirdshift47]

Actually you've gotten it backwards:no other race of indentured servants,slaves,sharecroppers,­wage slaves & industrial workers have done more to feed the caucasion in the US.LOL!!

Gratitude my ass;it's all about attitude.lol

[Macedonia360]

Cornel West is one of the great proliferators of racism. The existence of racism in America is more a product of the efforts of this "leader" and many like him (Rev. Wright, Louis Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson, and the like) than racism by the white man.

Without the notion or idea of black oppression they would become socially irrelevant and it is that which they fear most. As America grows increasingly colorblind, their language becomes increasingly desperate. This is a trait of narcissism.

[kajes5]

the detailed and methodical history of blacks being systematically terrorized, killed and more importantly, marginalized as a race does not support your response Macedonia.

A casual dismissal of racism and those who speak about constantly does not mean those doing the speaking are furthering an already well documented existence.

[Macedonia360]

@kajes5 "History" is your operative word. In our current society, crime is more prevalent against the white man by blacks than white on black crime ("terrorizing, killing", as you put it). It is long past due that blacks start owning their behavior in society and stop perpetuating the myth. It is long past due for our society to move forward and stop beating this "dead horse in the mouth", so to speak.

[kajes5]

@Macedonia360

the original subject was the proliferation of racism by black scholars and intellectuals, Dr. West being the former. Now you switched to crime. Is there a detailed history of overt and covert racism against minorities right up until present day, of course. Are there people like Cornel West, Charles Ogletree, Al Sharpton who talk about racism everyday of there waking live, yes. You cannot make the connection between talking about the injustices of racism daily and promoting it.

[Macedonia360]

@kajes5 I was following your reply about crime: "...blacks being systematically terrorized, killed".

[kajes5]

blacks have been killed by whites for a long, long time. now blacks are killing blacks and whites and that is why the prison industrial complex holds more AA then another other race 2 fold. minority races and cultures in America have been terrorized by white supremacy and male supremacy for 400+ years that is indisputable. the question is how do we as a society make successful opportunities available to EVERYONE.

[Macedonia360]

@kajes5 You too are proliferating the stereotype that whites are supremacist, blacks are victims, & blacks need (even more) opportunities than already afforded them despite more programs/funds made available to an AA for college than for whites. If history is your answer, white's were also once slaves who died in far greater numbers. Shall I cry foul? Your reference to history serves only to perpetuate racism. Blacks have had their revenge 10 fold since; so please, enough of the prejudice.

[thirdshift47]

1.)If you're getting your Dept.of Justice facts from that bullshit "Our Civilization".com(& then having the nerve to attribute those bogus facts to what i'm reading)then i'll indeed give you the benefit of the doubt & assume you're out of your mind.

2.)2008-violent crime by whites--58.3%

Violent crime by blacks--39.4%

Hate crimes by whites--45.9.

Hate crimes by blacks--10.6.

3.)And,no,I wasn't speaking of earned income but the fact that white households have 7 times the wealth of blacks.

[Macedonia360]

@thirdshift47 You have just pointed out that "Violent crime by blacks-39.4%" compared to 58.3% by whites. Also hate crimes by whites at 45.9%; blacks 10.6%. With blacks only comprising 12.8% of the population (2008 census), that makes for some unflattering statistics wouldn't you say? Thank you for helping validate my point.

[thirdshift47]

I think the point is that the evidence reveals a sharp sectarian,tribal tendency toward violent activity in the US;not some weird,oversimplifying ethnocentric view of a violent population of citizens(I won't even belabor the psychosocial differences in the nature of these crimes,but suffice it to say that they certainly don't validate your outdated racist points.)

[Macedonia360]

@thirdshift47 Interesting how you offer up statistics to support your contention that whites offend more than blacks and then label me as simple racist.

[Macedonia360]

@thirdshift47 Interesting how you offer up statistics to support your contention that whites offend more than blacks and then label me as simple racist.

[thirdshift47]

I simply presented data from the most mainstream of sources;with a complete disregard for attempting to draw some bold biological conclusion in their meaning(unlike what all of our well funded right-wing think tanks do in Washington.)

Your comments seek to make connections that don't exist.

[Macedonia360]

@thirdshift47 In your words... "Virtually every nonwhite indigenous population of people on the planet(the de facto 'majority' of the Earth's inhabitants)have been victims of violent subjugation & mass extermination by whites". Then you say innocently..." I simply presented data...with a complete disregard for attempting to draw some bold biological". Really thirdshift47? You, West, and the like fertilize an agenda based on popular exaggerations of history with NO regard for the black role.

[Macedonia360]

@thirdshift47 You are anything but innocent ("I simply presented data..") in your blood thirst to maintain a racially divided nation. It is this position that you take, and others like you, which pits the black race against the white for supposed injustice. In my long lifetime, this America has been plagued with black-on-white crime, unequaled fairness with education grants, unmatched assistance from gov't subsidies, and so on...all while blacks continue to cry foul. You should be ashamed.

[thirdshift47]

1.)I've never claimed that I was innocent;i'm just as racist,sexist,homophobic,ethno­centric,antiintergrationist,mi­santhropic,etc.,as the next man.

Yet i fail to see how any of my comments are founded on baseless stereotypes & not well established fact.

[thirdshift47]

2.)Claims about black citizens receiving government relief in greater proportion than whites are

a.)Unfounded,&...

b.)Rooted in an old post-60s campaign strategy of Republicans that seeks to exploit lingering cultural hostility toward the Civil Rights movement.

And it worked like a charm.

[mikeyramone33]

@thirdshift47 blacks did and still do recieve government relief way out of proportion to ALL other groups.yet blacks pay the least INTO the system

[kajes5]

@mikeyramone33

whites steal the majority from the gov't by way of tax evasion and Bernie Madoff, Enron and Lincoln Savings and Loan. Schemes that cost billions and billions of dollars and nearly brought the richest country in the history of the world to its knees. Those thief's cost tens of thousands of jobs and ruined lives 10 fold but who do you go after? Welfare mothers and poor people mainly minorities. why?  because it's easy, less complicated then the schemes that our white brothers do

[Macedonia360]

@thirdshift47 You should work on your sins as that's kinda what my debate is about. You maintain that you "fail to see how any of my comments are founded on baseless stereotypes". Keep looking. Your source, Dept. of Justice in "Highlights From Surveying 20 Years of Crime Victims", is clear that 90% of race crimes leave whites as the victims. Blacks committed 18 times more murders against whites than the opposite. And yet, you continue with your assault.

[kajes5]

mace it is absolutely indisputable that minorities in this country have been terrorized by a white majority that up to about 1980 really did not care if they survived, thrived or died.

As I said, we as a society need to continue to find ways that allow REAL opportunities for success to as much of the population as possible not just the top 25%.

You allow yourself to make broad opinionated statements like the reference to college and whites being slaves. Come off it Macedonia! continued

[kajes5]

Have you ever heard of legacy? my white brothers and sisters have been getting into the most elite schools thru mommy and daddy for over 200+ years and you want to complain about blacks getting scholarships and such.........we have come a long way as a society but I'm not going to pat my white brothers and sisters on the back right now.

I love how white people are so quick to point out that since President Obama is now President, blacks have no one to blame but themselves...........

[Macedonia360]

@kajes5 "minorities in this country have been terrorized by a white majority that up to about 1980" That is your opinion...and disputable. Blacks do not care if whites "survive, thrive, or die" and never have. It is in their song lyrics, it is in their messages in movies, it is in their churches, it is their backyard gatherings, it is integral to their agenda as a whole. It is that which must change if we are ever going to exterminate racism. BTW, the top 25% EARNED it....as Oprah did.

[kajes5]

@Macedonia360 if you think blacks do not care if whites survive, thrive or die or if this country we call America survives, thrives, or dies why don't count how many black supremacist groups are out there and how many white one?

Cornel West is speaking to a primarily to the have's on behalf of the have not's. Many of which do not even know or care who he is........

The white agenda is far more sinister, richer and more organized.

[Macedonia360]

@kajes5 Unlike churches with white congregations who worship the Lord on Sunday; many of the black churches who follow in the steps of Rev. J. Wright, J. Jackson, A. Sharpton, L. Farrakhan, etc. preach less about the word of God and Love....instead about social injustice, racism, division, etc. Every one of these churches across America are black supremacist. Let's also include Acorn (now defunct), or how 'bout NAACP, Black Panthers, and many others......ALL seeking black power & supremacy.

[kajes5]

@Macedonia360 you are now really struggling and getting quite disrespectful when you compare the white supremacist movement and black churches.

You pick out 3, THREE people from thousands of black preachers and leaders in the black community and try to indict the entire black society. That is laughable if not so delirious and shallow of you.

Rev Wright WAS SO POWERFUL that the day BEFORE he was reported on by the main stream media NOBODY knew him from Adam.

[thirdshift47]

1.)America has never been colorbind & sure as hell isn't right now.

2.)No one in their right mind could substantiate the claim that West is a racist.

3.)According to Dept.of Justice data violent crimes against blacks are 98% by blacks & violent crimes against whites are 92% by whites.

4.)Narcissism is a form of self delusion.

Inequality indexs reavealing sharp disparities in wealth,access to health care,infant mortality,incarceration ratios etc.,are fact.

Perpetuating myths,indeed.

[Macedonia360]

@thirdshift47 As quoted from your reference of the Dept. of Justice (copy/pasted): "Almost 1 million white Americans were murdered, robbed, assaulted or raped by black Americans in 1992, compared with about 132,000 blacks who were murdered, robbed, assaulted or raped by whites, according to the same survey." Your reference to inequality has more to do with earned income than race. I am, indeed, in my "right mind" and "substantiate..that West is a racist".

[PrezAlex]

Notice how when Dr. West says, "black people have to do the disappearing acts", no one laughs but Bai. Interesting, no?

[poshportia62]

How do you keep a people down? You 'never' let them 'know' their history.

The 7th Cavalry got their butts in a sling again after Little Big Horn, fourteen years later, the day after the Wounded Knee Massacre. If it wasn't for the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers, there would of been a second massacre of the 7th Cavalry. Read, and visit site/history, rescue at pine ridge. com

[yaknbo]

The Demo party continues its machinations at New Deal programs to keep people or color as "people of color" and not Americans. I beg you to understand and identify your true enemies. Obama, Frank, Pelosi, Reid. They will destroy you. The United States of America is an "idea" too. It is all of ours. Join in and stop trying to make yourselves exceptional.

[yaknbo]

Anybody who thinks I am a racist without knowing me can go fuck themselves. It is very simple. You don't know me, you don't know me. Cornel West is a bromide. You think black politics is over or continuing? The REAL problem here is that you think ALL black politics are left wing. People, there is a conservative revolution coming your way that includes EVERYBODY. I suggest you steel yourselves.

[CaliforniaAfrican]

Happy Birthday, Brotha West.

[jaimesandoval1988]

Cornel West really makes you think. Great mind!

[kajes5]

I love a good fight, and if the subject is abject poverty, social injustice, racism as it relates to the legacy of white supremacy and male supremacy then I am all for it.

My "gut" tells me social activism will continue even if people like ahooga throw verbal stones from the back rows of life, assailing those on the front lines who risk so much more than he!!!

[ahooga]

You're not supposed to understand what Cornell West says. You're supposed to tap your foot to it.

[kajes5]

I love Dr West and think highly of him but this is a misplaced, mistimed lecture. Brother Bai correctly points out after joking with Dr West that his piece was nearly 5000 words and covered many of the areas Dr West speaks of.

[98nafets]

The racism of today is not based on hatred as Dr. West portrays it. Racism today is built on the lack of knowledge or experience by people. If you are white and have never met a black person, your impression of them will be based on what you have seen in the media. Think about it, if white people were judged soley by the whites on TV or the internet, you would think they were crazy. Racism will end when people see that their doctors, lawyers, accountants, bosses etc. being a diverse people.

[AfroPlato]

Brotha, I, humbly, ask you to read his works and listen to his words completely... he doesn't base it on hatred solely... he even says they currently are less racist due to the points you made. Though the remnants of hate are still around in the forms of de facto segregation and deliberate/willful ignorance.

- AP

[YuliasAcups]

where do I start...? Black activists and Black conservatives are both right. All circumstances, radici27, have contributed to the state of black america. external;racism, discrimination, crumbling education, poverty, bad policy,regressive behavior, illegitimacy, attitude towards education everything

[kajes5]

I am talking about opportunity which is all anyone needs. Blacks did not have the opportunities to succeed, they did have the will. The last 50 years this country has come a long way in melting away the ignorance, fear, hatred that froze many blacks in the poverty they were born into. Now you have countless blacks who took the opportunities and did something with them.

Is America there yet, absolutely not, but we are on the move......

[YuliasAcups]

We as a community were stripped of our culture, our heritage, our self respect, our ability to govern ourselves, to make our own choices and to raise our own families And sure its been like Nearly a hundred and 20 years since slavery, yeah, that shit was NOT that long ago at all. As in, my mother's, mother's, mother just barely escaped being legally OWNED by some mutherfuckers. But like six years or something. None of us (mass america/the world) know the depths of our history

[fctchk]

Perhaps one of the most tragic ironies of history - the African American and Mr. West's embrace of Christianity, a type of mass Stockholm Syndrome:

"You may purchase slaves from the foreigners among you. You may purchase their children treating them as property, passing them on to your children as inheritance. " Leviticus 25:44-46

[tommystanley3]

You always find one intellect amongst savage and idiotic comments when watching videos such as these. Thumbs up.

[sleezyque8]

You do realize, no matter how many times other people try to spin it, Jesus IS Christianity. Not anything in Leviticus. It is the word of God, but Christians, hence the name, are followers of Jesus, the CHRIST. Leviticus also says don't eat pork, but CHRISTIANS don't believe that either...STOP GOD HATING!!!

[fctchk]

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. " Ephesians 6:5

[metavoice]

@fctchk Your comments, which I've seen in other places, is a little reductive. You're first of all making an identification between slavery in the Hebrew Bible with the "invisible institution." You don't acknowledge that a prophetic brand of Christianity was in fact used to attack slavery. Moreover, you make the assumption that passages on slavery were somhow meant to be proscriptive which is one way of interpreting those passages.

[fctchk]

Even if the role of the Bible in enabling or providing moral cover for the Middle Passage ranges from at least weak (likely) to nonexistent (unlikely) and its passages on slavery range from proscriptive (which I don't claim - it's not clear they are) to non-condemnatory (which at the very least they clearly are), isn't it telling that yet another brand (""Prophetic"") of Christianity had to be cherry picked (out of the morass of muddled moral mediocrity of the mainstream canon) to counteract it?

[metavoice]

I disagree again. The prophetic view isn't cherry picked. There are clear diverse streams within the biblical text. The prophetic section offers a religious critique w/o being anti-religious. Such a dialectic militates against a certitude that reinforces injustice. West clearly draws on such tensions.

[metavoice]

Moreover, we're scrutinizing a text that has developed over a period of a thousand years which contains self-critical elements in tension with each other. The books offer an internal critique when read in context. The problem is more often with the hermeneutic we bring to our reading of the text and not the text itself. Only the naive and ideologues allow such tensions to cause a rash dismissal of Christianity and traditions which develop from the Bible.

[metavoice]

I would argue that YOUR reading and subsequent rejection of Christianity is an example of this ideological dismissal because Christianity fails to meet YOUR criteria.

Must we all follow your hermeneutic?

[YuliasAcups]

Most of us, apparently dont want to know, or even know, that this is anything TO know.

As for the wide spread success of black Mayors and Governors, school principles and CEO's, Thats like saying the families pet cow is better off then the cows at the slaughter house. When times get hard and the families hungry, your gonna eat that cow, regardless.

Racism is racism, if your black, no matter where you're standing, or how successful you THINK you are.

[rodeo179]

OWNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[Astrotd]

hahahaha...Regan and Bush cause black crime! What a joke!!!!

[Kayiness08]

Open your ears. West didn't say Bush and Reagan made black crime. He said that their party is responsible for the exploitation of white fears using words like crime and welfare to make us seem diseased and making them vote on that.

[kraken138]

@Kayiness08 That is a moronic thought. It doesn’t take a pronouncement or semantic trickery from Reagan or Bush to illustrate to white people which ethnic group has a natural inclination for crime and sloth. We just have to look at our towns that were once safe, clean, productive and pretty and mark their demise at the arrival of blacks. White-Flight isn’t racism; it’s temperamental incompatibility. 

[demmmmm1]

@kraken138 Wow. The "ethnic" group whose natural inclination for crime...so, you're not including fraud, money-laundering, corporate crime (Enron, Halliburton, etc.). Were you aware that 42 of GW's appointees resigned under clouds of scandal? Nine were convicted of crimes. His "Abstinence Czar" was a "John" of the DC Madame.

BP/Halliburton's cheating caused a devastating oil spill, yet Repubs apologized to BP and blocked subpoena power for the oil spill commission.

[demmmmm1]

@kraken138 Why do you think it took "semantic trickery" for the Tea Party, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, all Birthers, etc? "Witch Doctor" "Halfro-American" "Go Back to Kenya" "Anti-American" "Racist" "Reparations!!"

Sounding familiar?

[kevcas73]

@kraken138 "which ethnic group has a natural inclination for crime and sloth". that is a moronic thought.

[chichi71489]

@kraken138 White-Flight is racism. it occurs in suburban towns when large numbers of the black middle-class move into the nicer areas where whites live. The whites start moving out simply because they don't want to live around blacks and for no other reason. White people are the majority of the population so when such a large group of people don't want to live in a particular area the property value and the market prices for homes in the area decline substantially.

[mamacornettesmoney]

@chichi71489 There is much more to it than that. Simply saying white flight is because whites don't want to be around blacks is VERY close-minded and narrow. Sure, SOME move because of that, but FACT is, too many blacks are terrible neighbors and tennants. And it is NOT just about poverty. It is a cultural mind set.

[chichi71489]

@mamacornettesmoney please give me one valid reason other than racism why large groups of white people will move out of a suburban community when black people start moving in? dont be so naive there is no other reason. u just said black are terrible neighbors which is a racist stereotype but ur callin me narrow-minded? lol how ironic. and the fact that you believe that blacks and whites have different cultural mindsets and behave differently as neighbors is racist ideology

[mamacornettesmoney]

@chichi71489 LOL Racist stereotypes are TRUE sometimes

[chichi71489]

@mamacornettesmoney no intelligent response....typical. i don't care if you want to be a racist in 2011 everyone is entitled to their own ways of thinking despite how ignorant and immoral it may be but don't try and justify your racism with lies. and stereotypes can NEVER be true because sweeping generalizations can never be made about one race because we are all individuals and race does not determine our personalities or our actions. we act based on our mind not the color of our skin.

[mamacornettesmoney]

MANY black people destroy neighborhoods & bring crime in. it is FACT. People who don't want that, black & white alike, leave if they can.

Sure, there are people who leave because their neighbors are "black." But most of it is because of CERTAIN elements. That is just fact & it doesn't have to be "racism". It can be common sense. If trash comes in, you leave. I'm not saying all or even most blacks are trash, But "white flight" is primarily caused because of TRASH. Look at the places it occurs.

[chichi71489]

@mamacornettesmoney now you are back peddaling cuz this isn't the same argument u made before. and those arent "facts" those are racist misconceptions that have been proved wrong by sociologists. i already explained how it occurs and ur still saying that white ppl leave because black ppl bring in crime which is not true. white people leave BEFORE these towns become destroyed and them leaving is an indirect cause of this destruction for reasons ive already stated and im not gonna keep repeating

[41five70sav]

@mamacornettesmoney

not. read a history book. white flight is a function of a socio-historical context in which blacks have been victims of economic injustice and prejudice in the housing market. White people leave because they don't want to lose money in property value because of the historical racism and discrimination in real estate practice.

nice try though.

[chichi71489]

@mamacornettesmoney and there is no seperate white culture and black culture. we all live in the same society, speak the same language, observe the same national holidays, go through the same educational system, and follow the same laws and social norms which makes it ONE AMERICAN CULTURE that we are all apart of. you are very ignorant if you believe blacks and whites live in two seperate bubbles and have different cultures. we are all intertwined whether u like it or not.

[shieldsff]

@chichi71489 - "there is no seperate white culture and black culture. we all live in the same society"

you are correct on that point; but the downside of that as Dr. West explains is that too much of the negative aspects of american life are 'toxic' for blacks as a group.... On virtually every major & significant socio-economic indice they lag. It would be flawed to ignore the impact of the legacy of racism & discrimination in American society for this stark inequality !

[chichi71489]

@shieldsff i agree and i never said there was no inequality i said we are all part of the same american culture. there is a difference between those two statements.

[JimBowie1133]

@chichi71489 ,I have to slightly disagree, although we live in the same society, there is somewhat of a separate white and black culture, as evidenced by differing language styles, dress, and artistic leanings and worldviews between whites and blacks on a scale large enough to be recognized as a reality...

[chichi71489]

@JimBowie1133 i disagree those differences have more to do with the environment an individual grew up in and personal preference rather than race. its not right to lump people in one category based on the color of their skin.

[JimBowie1133]

@chichi71489 , its not about being nice, its history. Blacks and whites were socially segregated for hundreds of years so of course they developed differences in cultural manner...food, music, speech, style and dress, dance....yes it all makes up American culture but there is nothing wrong with recognizing the ethnic origins.

[sambam2694]

@chichi71489 So what your saying is you are being ignorant to the fact of Racism is dead. You do realise Martin Luther King didn't die to have it where everyone lived together, but have black people pushed to the side. He was a man for peace, but he was a black man first. So before you think we are all equal, come down to College Park, Georgia, then go to Sandy Springs, Georgia. Tell me we dont live separate, and we as a Americans need to stop looking for someone to pick us up, and change us.

[bamjungle]

@chichi71489 Intertwined yes, same culture no. America is Multicultural. That is why you get that multicultural society, cultural exchange, culture shock, and even immitation of anothers culture. We are in different cultures, to deny it is to deny the ethnic diversity itself. It is not a badge of liberalism or tolerance to ignore culture differences. Its actually a form of oppression itself. Yes inequality because one culture is preffered by the dominant people group with institutional backing.

[blucinemafilms]

@chichi71489 I respectfully disagree White America from it murderous roots in North America has never been inclusive of any other ethnicity or culture rather they were Indians, Asians, Mexican & especially Blacks. Whites set their society up to enjoy fully life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. Whereas, Blacks have been subjected to slavery, inferior education, KKK, job discrimination, injustice, bank redlining, police brutality i.e John Burge etc. How many Blacks were on Cheers or Seinfeld.

[Ryooken]

@blucinemafilms Actually I must disagree with you in this aspect, white culture has been inclusive in a way very much like the borg. I use this reference to not just because I like Star Trek but because it's totally applicable. White culture like the borg tends to take from the collective use it as if it were their own and disgards the rest as waste material. No where in white culture is there room outside the collective for competing cultures, you either submit or be neutralized.

[arronnov]

@blucinemafilms Its not that black people has gotten inferior education. Its the fact that we haven't gotten the proper education which means its suppose help us not get jobs but to secure our interest and survival before any other group. The education in the western white world that's control by whites is for the survival and interest of whites. That's why the cry for black only and controlled schools puts the fear of god into whites.

[blucinemafilms]

If a white man and a black man are driving a new car past a cop who is the most likely to be stopped. It would be great if I was wrong and you were right, but I think the facts I mention or irrefutable. Hopefully, one day it will be one bubble and we will fight this society's common foe which is evil. ...

[Ryooken]

@chichi71489 Correction we all live in the same country.  Our societies are very different. Do we share some similarities? Yes we do but African American and White culture is different. For example, our music, history, experiences, are all different from that of the dominant white culture. For anyone to express anything other than that shows a childish naivette.

[chichi71489]

@mamacornettesmoney whether someone is a good neighbor or not has nothing to do with race and for you to insinuate that is a joke. please free your mind.

[mamacornettesmoney]

@chichi71489 Your reading comprehension blows. YOU are stuck on race. i am talking about the FACT taht most instances of white flight occur because of BAD black neighbors, not just "black neighbors" in general. You are the one hiding from truth.

[mindonoverdrive]

@chichi71489 I agree with your statement. It's all around neighborhoods you speak about here. Yet there are some people that haven't been taught to treat people who are different from themselves to be racist. I live in a suburban Atanta neightborhood. I have a loving black family right across the street from my home. The street I live on has other white families who do not feel they will lose anything by having other races in the neighborhood. Dr. West is a hero. My parents are the other.

[chichi71489]

@kraken138 ..as a result poor people are able to afford the homes and move in. poor people tend to commit crime such as burglary, robbery, car theft, and drug sales as a way of getting money because they lack the opportunities for conventional ways of money-making. Because of racism poor blacks are the only people willing to move into these towns of middle-class blacks. so yes in a way you can say white-flight destroys these towns however it does not cause black crime but it does perpetuate it.

[kraken138]

@chichi71489 So you are saying that people are committing these crimes to feed their families? That is an absurd notion that only your sociologist professor could have conjured up. More likely, they are committing these crimes to feed drug habits, or to buy gold incrusted jewels, guns, woman, cars, and whatever else fits into their ideal.

[kajes5]

I believe Dr West is the W.E.B DuBois of the 20th Century but he is off the mark on this one. I strongly suggest everyone interested watch the entire piece on PBS. Mr. Bai response is right on the money. There is a fascinating wrestle match that blacks are going thru as so many successful blacks don't see race or the history of racial bigotry as something they need to talk about every second of every day to be successful while others believe if you don't you're not being "true" to your history

[electango]

Except that DuBois was intelligent.

[kajes5]

I believe Dr West is the W.E.B DuBois of the 20th Century but he is off the mark on this one. I strongly suggest everyone interested watch the entire piece on PBS. Mr. Bai response is right on the money. There is a fascinating wrestle match that blacks are going thru as so many successful blacks don't see race or the history of racial bigotry as something they need to talk about every second of every day to be successful while others believe if you don't you're not being "true" to your history

[radici27]

I was explaining to a friend of mine the difference, in my interpretation, between mainstream Black activists and Black conservatives. I said that while mainstream activists see the plagues facing black people as largely external;racism, discrimination, crumbling education, bad policy,etc, Black conservatives see what largely plagues black people as internal,regressive behavior, illegitimacy, attitude towards education,etc. I happen to lean more towards the latter. I see it all the time.

[kajes5]

as blacks continue to rise up the ladder politically as well as socially can they continue, they being the likes of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, to beat the drum of "oh woe is me". Blacks already dominate sports, dominate much of the music industry, Will Smith is the highest paid actor, blacks are CEO's of two of largest companies in America. There is a large majority of blacks who are doing very well but many black leaders want to define the entire black society by the bottom 5%

[Rasputin7798]

I don't consider it a "woes as me" approach. They base their strategic defense of black people on muthafuckin American history. Mainstream white America (white supremacy) has been the bane of black people's existence in this country. The success of that very "criticial" minority that you speak of, have not been able to translate their success to the rest of us because racism has had such a detrimental effect on our pysche. And its still working against us.

[Rasputin7798]

Majority of blacks in this country are working class, a few steps from where we were when we sharecropping and laboring for free for white America. In order for true change blacks will need black empowerment, more money, more success, and more people teaching our starving brothers and sisters about how this success can be achievable in their own personal context. In the process that means an end to institutional racism and systematic racism as well. To do that we need Jackson and Sharpton as wel

[kajes5]

a majority of this country is working class!

Instituional and systemactic racism??? Blacks are woven into the fabric of every top instituion and system we have so if there is WIDESPEARD racism than explain their success.

Blacks are Mayors and Governors, school principles and CEO's not to mention part of school boards and community action groups all around this country.

[bigwilly711]

What did he just say? absoutly not

hing.

[mistawabit]

lol Cornell West does at times present himself as if his PHD is in jive talk. Im a black man and I often disdain the fact that he is one of the more highly recognized black intellectuals.. Image wise we can do better. However, Dr. Wests written contributions to the areas of social science, philosophy, black advancement and civil rights are irreplaceable.

So while he comes off like a ghetto Socrates from an intellectual standpoint the value of His teachings and writings are tantamount to Gold.

[beforenightfell]

Image wise we can do better.

Well as long as your priorities are in the right place.

[MrBloody32]

A lot of people are drawn to Cornel West by his unique, jazz-like speaking style, which in the long run makes them better educated.

Similarly, Public Enemy needed Flavor Flav to draw people to their social and political ideas. I realize it's a stupid example, but you can see what I mean.

You might think this is cynical, but nonetheless, it's effective and helps people get motivated.

[chefawkes]

what the fuck is wrong with the way he talks? your an idiot.

[hornmd7]

Grammatical error...idiot.

"your" = wrong

"you're" = appropriate

[chefawkes]

when all else fails, bitch about grammar and spelling. pathetic.

[GaryNull]

"your" = up yours lol

[Rasputin7798]

Of Course Cornell is right again. Black People need both Obama (and inside politicians) and Civil Rights leadership on the outside (ala Jesse Jackson). We need both but never will Obama be the end of Civil Rights Leadership as we know it. Our community would perish if Obama was the only black leadership we had!

[pairunoyd]

Cornballs acting like a brat. why doesnt someone kick his skinny ass?

[pairunoyd]

west is an obnoxious fool. its like hes a caricature of himself. lol. I'm totally opposed to his politics but i do like to hear him.

[slowgrindcity]

you stupid. im not surprised. thats like asking a mentally retarded kid to appreciate the theory of general relativity. so, im not mad at you pairunoyd, we cant expect stupid people like you to understand anything outside of 3rd grade hollywood movies and comic books. have you ever wished your mother aborted you and saved you the misery of living such a worthless life?

[pairunoyd]

i agree

[cherishluv]

ditto!