Cornel West: To Be a Leftist in the 21st Century (3/3)

[paultorgas]

white black it doesn't matter. We have to come together as people and do the right thing and always be guided by that.

[RainmanCT]

Brother West is an amazing speaker and should have a lot more TV time. He speaks in a language easily understandable by the average Joe with a message of brotherhood and community sorely missing from the discourse of big media.

[mthakore]

It's a shame that a lot of black people don't have the mindset of Dr. Cornell West. He doesn't play the blame game. He's a good educated and logical human being.

[83leaf]

@mthakore he has the same mindsit as many black leaders 'Change" as far as what we been yelling for the last 400 years, some blacks ask for it and some blacks demand it but the point is the same. Also mr. west followed Dr. king which should tell you what hes about and he also is smart enought to relate our issues as blacks to other groups and cultures who should have been woke up

[SoulstylistJukebox]

@mthakore You assume too much. So tell me, what percentage of "black people" play the "blame game"? When you've finished your research of what black people think and do come back and let me know. I'd love to know. Cheers.

[mthakore]

@SoulstylistJukebox I'm assuming you're african american and you're taking my post personally. I'm not white by the way, I'm asian. So, to elaborate on my point, look at any news station, CNN, MSNBC, FOX. Any time you see a black person featured (if he is not being interviewed and if he is not a black reporter), it is a racial issue. Do not take my comment personally. I'm just point it out. Black leaders today are Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson... relics from the civil rights movement.

[juncalito39]

Dr West is a Great human being.. Jah Bless

[TheLookAtSeries]

A BRIIIANT MAN. The action which he calls for is wht's needed. But wil it ever happen?.

[TheLookAtSeries]

A BRILLIANT MAN!

[lriggin1]

"What I would love to see is the radical reformism once more become fashionable among young people and then allow the Leftists to come in and do our thing" I would love to see the younger generation meet that challenge. That's an interesting point, though. Are young people politically-minded and socially aware enough to rally and spark reform as Dr. West calls for?

[guitaristxcore]

@lriggin1 The potential is there. But I dont think popular culture promotes much more than a superficial interest in serious political, ideological, world issues, which isnt whats needed. When it comes to game time, time for us as the people to step up and change things, we need people who are deeply knolwedgable of the issues, and these people need to be prevelant at all levels of society. That knowledgability just isnt present right now. Its just not... cool. Which is sad.

[lriggin1]

@guitaristxcore I think you're absolutely correct. Young people are losing the ability to have civil discussions, so they shy away from the important conversations that are needed to propel society in the right (or left) direction. I'm not sure how we begin to change that.

[birex2000]

what a wonderful mind

[Diosibundo]

Sure, I agree that history influences our every move and us taking it for granted.

But I see a direct line from Jefferson and the Declaration, through the Abolitionists,, the Progressives in the 1890's, 1900s Women's Vote movement, The New Deal all the way to the Civil Rights, Feminism, Peace Movement, Gay rights, Chomsky and C. West...

All of it American, zero Marxism (though am sure some influences from 1870s on)

What do you think is the main difference between the LEFT and the RIGHT ?

[creten69]

i think im an insane leftist

[USA4July1776]

The left is insane.

[Diosibundo]

@USA4July1776

Why do you think the left is insane?

[USA4July1776]

Where to begin?

Marxism denounces the abuses of companies and capitalism, fine, but then it justifies dragging us back to the old model of feudalism we just escaped, pretending that government bureaucratic elites are somehow akin to "We the People."

This, indeed, is insane.

Government is supposed to protect life, liberty and property, but as history bears witness, govt always end up becoming the biggest abuser of life, liberty and property.

Then there's the gender, class & race wars...

[Diosibundo]

I mostly agree with all that about Marxism I guess, but in the US the left is not Marxist... most of the left here has nothing to do with Marxism though.

What do you mean about the gender, class and race wars?

[USA4July1776]

Marxist has shifted from an economic and political war solely, to a cultural war (ie Frankfurt school).

Gender, class and race wars, in the form of feminism, class envy and race supremacisms of all colors are all transcribed in the broader struggle between a group seen as being oppressed by another. It paints a caricature of the world, as if fortunes and class status were homogeneous in America, as if we lived in a caste system, where divide and conquer lets bureaucrats rule over our lives.

[Diosibundo]

USA4July1776

What's the Frankfurt School? I never heard of that

[USA4July1776]

In 1933 the Marxist "Frankfurt School" fled Frankfurt Germany, in a brain-drain along with Jews such as Einstein, escaping the persecution of the Nazis who did not approve of their beliefs, and made Columbia their new home. This, today, is the intellectual epicenter of what we commonly refer as "leftism." Whereas classical Marxism suggests that the central tenet of history is the struggle btw socioeconomic classes, cultural Marxists advocate their emancipation from the a caricatured oppressor.

[Diosibundo]

USA4July1776

Wait a minute, I've been involved in the left for years (Anit-war, pro women and all that) and I never heard of these Frankfurt guys, how could the4y be the epicenter of anything if we leftists never heard of them?

I think Chomsky, the 60's, feminism, Civil Rights and all that have way more influence over the American Left than anything to do with Marxism, don't you?

[USA4July1776]

Well, history is like an invisible hand guiding our every move.

We take for granted our present condition, the language we speak, our history, our values... but they were all forged by events lead by people in history. Philosophers, prophets and statesmen from Plato, through Jesus, to JFK have all shaped what and who we are today. Same applies to the Frankfurt School, where guys like Chomsky, Linsky and Ayers cut their teeth... these think tanks control rhetoric and influence political thought.

[eirefrance]

@USA4July1776 The left is Marxist? Hmmmmm......

[rockerdisturbed]

People do not change. If they do it's to small to notice. If we want change in this world (especially in America) we need our educators to teach children something difficult and complex that most adults could never even comprehend. "Treat everyone equal, unless they are being a meanie, then ignore them"' Color should be a prehistoric issue compared to how fast this world is progressing.

[xXfainarufantajiXx]

Hell I've got causes i'm willing to fight for in American society/government. I.e., the social stigma of Cannabis, the reformation of Cannabis laws, and by extension the re-evaluation of our "war on drugs"(as well as our "war on terror"), reformation of healthcare policy ( boy isn't that going well?), gay and lesbian rights. Any injustices Im forgetting(in america, and the world)?

[elkniwekaj]

An interesting and powerful speaker. That last statement seems like that of a vanguard, something witch I'm not so sure about. Yet, I most definitely agree that the greed is driving the division amongst our brothers and sisters. As a human I feel quite saddened to see these racial, cultural, and economic differences blind so many of our fellow people from the suffering of our own; This 'Ice Age' Mr. West speaks of most definitely should end. I am a white man and I care for the suffering. LOVEALL

[Fremglerk]

I want visitors to know my previous post was an edit of a post by msscott73. Another poster professed not to know what scott had said, so I edited scott's post for clarity (as I do articles in the law journal I sometimes edit). No offense was intended to either party nor editorial comment implied.

[rebharath]

this is my first listen to cornel west - thanks so much for posting!!

[hotchoccolate23]

as obmaa has got the working class support n left support in america , left wing should now in america plant strong grassroot developments n keep the momentum barack has helped , america is dying to due ist imperialist right wing greed

[mikezephyr]

ok, that comment was written a while back- and yet, obama has extended the continued 'war on terror', has staked unequivocal support for israel and is reserving 50,00 troops in military bases in iraq after "leaving" it by 2010.

wtf?!

as much as the elections signify a change in position, the 'left' ought not to place their hope and efforts in a system that rewards irrationality and brutality and is abtracted to the level of distant leadership.

[AceKat00o]

don't think that things will change now that Obama is in office , hell ,i dont know his agenda but i do know that a politician is a politician ,and after all the president is just a puppet for the capitalist agenda ,after all the US is a capitalist and corporate cowntry so the fact that you have a black president doesent change shit but the skin colour ,i suggest watching "KRS-One Wake-Up" ,it will inform you very much on obama

[TheatetustheGreat]

Perhaps too revisionist!? Perhaps one should remain a bit more leninist and honestly say that it is extremely important to fight the mensheviks, and only then to fight the capitalists, because the stringent militancy of the movement - and its ability to promote change - is directly related to internal reflection on any subjectivity produced by bourgeois structures..? Just perhaps..? Maybe...

[willwkrueger]

"what I would love to see, is for radical reformationism to become fashionable among young people again so leftists can go in and do our thing!" wouldnt we all haha

[pglove69]

oprah made a black charity in africa, for black children, they say she is wrong, that she is racist, because of it, Cornell West is not speaking "ebonics" or "ghetto talk" he is trying to inform everybody on how this country is ran, and what we need to do to fix it, and all some people get from this 3 part video is he is another rev. wright. what makes you the type of person u are today are 1.morales2.culture3.experience­ an saying if you could walk a mile in my shoes maybe u would be angry too?

[amet1980]

he is absolutely right .

in USA you can never have a letwing alternative, unless a major system dysfunction allows a populist to slip in in a messianic platform.

and i predict it has more changes coming from a right wing reactionist area than a left wing.

so progressives need to work on single issues combings in association with mainstream societal base.

lets face it, a socialist-marxist-green(at the Swedish model) alliance government wont happen in USA any time soon.

[stevoNYC]

I'm a young white man and I find myself inspired by Dr. West. His message isn't one of division and hate but love and respect for your fellow human being regardless of their external appearance.

[xvegansxex]

@stevoNYC Me too, I'm white and i'm not even american but i often find myself watching these videos, we can only learn from this man.

[msscott73]

I'm a black man and I can tell that people don't have a clue of White Supremecy. so I'll start by stating what this term doesn't not mine. It doesn't mean anti-white people. It doesn't mean blacks should attack white people based on the color of their skin there by given some the experience black have experienced at the hands of many. It certainly doesn't mean "fuck you white boy" It certainly doesn't mean that. Cultural competency is important people can communicate cros-culture.

[msscott73]

I'm a black man and I can tell that alwayopen don't have any clue to what White Supremecy. so like to start by stating what this term doesn't not mine. It doesn't me blacks hate white folk. It doesn't mean should attack white people based on the color of their skin there by given some the experience black have experienced at the hands of many. It certainly doesn't mean "fuck you white boy" It cerainly doesn't mean that. cultural compentency is importent people can communicate cros-culture

[bigcatz4455]

i cant understand your english.

[Fremglerk]

Translation: I'm a black man and can tell that alwayopen doesn't have a clue as to what *White Supremacy* means, so I'd like to start by stating what it does and doesn't mean. It doesn't mean blacks hate white folk. It doesn't mean they should attack whites based on skin color given what some blacks have experienced at the hands of many. It certainly doesn't mean "f--- you white boy." It certainly doesn't mean that. Cultural compentency is important so that people can communicate cross-culture.

[alwaysopen]

He repeatedly brings up "white supremacy" - a term he throws out errantly - and is telling me "FUCK YOU, WHITE BOY" for the mere fact I am alive.

Life is not easy for any of us, asshole and I don't get paid handsomely for spewing my filth publicly.

This is one racist fucker. Could I speak publicly like that? NO!

He has white in him from somewhere and is one of many well to do light skinned blacks who use their positions in society to pull the slave card and champion the rest of black America.

[sambowman0]

He does use the term a lot, but I have no clue what you mean by "Fuck You, White Boy!" I'm a 'white boy' too and am completely lost as to why this would be something for you to take issue with

[ronniemas1]

Read between the lines....it's love of all. After your introspection, then you will be able to see past yourself.

[Egggbutt]

He's not telling you "Fuck you, White Boy", he's asking you to wake up and come to terms with the legacy of an ugly ideology that is still prevalent in America today. Resistance to white supremacy is not black supremacy, that's not what Dr. West is about. He's about getting America, white America included to take part in socratic questioning of the status quo.

Workers of the World, Unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains!

[mgalore]

@Egggbutt very well stated eggbutt its hard for some to see this struggle for any human being is the struggle for all human beings

[BrentThomas]

he isnt saying fuck you white boy. he is saying "wake up!!!"

get out of your sanctuary of ingorance and turn off fox news and read. GREED is what he is talking about. GREED knows know color

[aicheyearaem]

What's the book???

[LetItBurnnn]

he is good

[opinionhead444]

The right-wingers lost William F. Buckley recently. Now everything should go to shit for them.

[bobbyusbombs]

Buckley's death does call for a celebration, but he was not that influential these days. I for one am glad he's dead though...

[hoosd42]

I love how calls himself a leftist/socialist but yet brags about how many books he's SOLD(meaning he is selling something for profit) This just proves how full of shit socialism really is. They say that corporations are evil but when a big Corporate book publisher's comes along offering them money for a manuscript they don't turn it down. This man is profiting from Leftist morons and it's sad and pathetic.

[hamsterpoop]

truly inspirational analytic candor

[dukeofmystery]

radical views are becoming fashionable among the youth again. it's only a matter of time before we have a movement going. rage agaisnt the machine got back together. i think thats a sign along with many others. artists recognize this as a very influential point in our nations history. i know im listening.

[bhohmann49]

mainstream society would define me as "white"...i used to, three years prior to this moment, think of myself as "white"...it was through deep self-reflexive searching (and lots of whiteness studies scholarship) that I came to deidentify with whiteness and realize I had NO racial identity in reality...I agree with everything Brother West said...let the uplift and radicalization of the youthful masses begin!

[7567266]

I love this brother and I'm proud to say that I'm a member of the same fraternal organization as him. 06 A-PHI

[jacket737]

America don't have one white man that can hang with the knowlege of this man.

[sshuck]

Well...Chomsky...

[listen2this]

Chomsky can certainly rattle off alot of facts and dates but he rarely delves into the root human-element. Cornell Is way more enlightening, inspiring and informative.

[sshuck]

I think that's subjective. Also, Chomsky does talk about the human being as having a basic need for creative work, etc., and repressive regimes have cultivated a cynical view of the common man as a coverup.

Anyway, the moral of the story is we're all thirsty for dissenting voices and we're grateful for these people.

[Theaterkunst]

If you try to convince these nazis, you're not doing a good job. They study Jesus. What is the point? They believe in Creationism. Not evolution. Ignorant corporation zombies.

[maverickcul]

Noam Chomsky is waay better

[MountLykaion]

I like both. Wallerstein, i think, is very important too for the Left. I'm glad to have discovered Cornel West and Tavis Smiley. they're both brilliant.

[ManilaRyceTLM]

There's no need to put up one great leftist thinker against another. Competition is a basic tenet of capitalism. Cooperation is what we should be aiming for. Both brothers are brilliant, and would reject any such comparison.

[equationoracle]

well, well

[aicheyearaem]

I don't know what the THANG is that leftists do.

[C9pherD9v9ne]

DR. CORNELL WEST IS FEATURES IN MATRIX RELOADED.

he was one of the elders on the council.

[ThatzzLIfe]

I love listening to West!

[YawnGod]

We need a republican to try and smear him.

[YawnGod]

To try to*

[dusteroo]

wake up, dude. Look at who you are and where you are.

[YawnGod]

INDEED. Notice the "try" I utilized in my above posts.

[dmbfantony]

American needs Cornel West.

[Doniedaff]

I never heard of Cornell before last week. He sounds fantastic.

[syykoet]

we just dont hear this kind of talk enough.

[JuliusGray]

God Bless Cornel!

[itownchica22]

preach mister...:)