Cornel West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cornel West
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West in 2018
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| Born |
Cornel Ronald West
June 2, 1953 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Princeton University (MA, PhD) |
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Notable work
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| Spouse(s) |
Hilda Holloman
(m. 1977, divorced)Ramona Santiago
(m. 1981; div. 1986)Elleni Gebre Amlak
(m. 1992, divorced)Leslie Kotkin
(m. 2015; div. 2018)Annahita Mahdavi
(m. 2021) |
| Era | Contemporary philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School |
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| Institutions | Union Theological Seminary Yale University Harvard University Princeton University Dartmouth College University of Paris in Saint-Denis |
| Thesis | Ethics, Historicism and the Marxist Tradition (1980) |
| Doctoral advisor | Raymond Geuss, Sheldon Wolin |
| Doctoral students | Leah Hunt-Hendrix |
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Main interests
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Cornel Ronald West (born June 2, 1953) is an American philosopher, political activist, and public figure. A public intellectual is someone who uses their intelligence to comment on important issues in society. West is known for sharing his ideas on race, gender, and class in the United States. He was an independent candidate in the 2024 United States presidential election.
West's ideas are influenced by many traditions, including Christianity, the black church, and democratic socialism. He is the author of several well-known books, including Race Matters and Democracy Matters.
Throughout his life, West has been a professor at famous schools like Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University. He has also appeared in movies, such as The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, and has recorded music albums.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Cornel West was born on June 2, 1953, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but he grew up in Sacramento, California. His mother, Irene, was a teacher and principal, and his father, Clifton, worked for the U.S. Department of Defense. His grandfather was a pastor at a Baptist church.
As a teenager, West was passionate about civil rights. He participated in marches and organized protests at his high school to create classes on Black studies. He said he was inspired by the powerful ideas of leaders like Malcolm X and groups like the Black Panther Party.
In 1970, he began studying at Harvard University. After graduating, he went to Princeton University, where he earned a Ph.D. in philosophy in 1980. He was the first African American to earn this degree from Princeton.
A Career in Teaching and Writing
Famous Professor
West has taught at some of the most respected universities in the world. He started his teaching career at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He later taught at Yale University, the University of Paris in Saint-Denis, Princeton University, and Harvard University.
At Harvard, he taught one of the university's most popular classes on African American studies. He became a University Professor, which is one of the highest honors for a teacher.
Leaving Harvard
In 2002, West left Harvard after a disagreement with the university's president, Lawrence Summers. They had different views on West's work and teaching. West then returned to Princeton University.
In 2021, West left Harvard for a second time. He said the university would not consider him for tenure, which is a permanent teaching position. West believed this was because of his public support for the Palestinian people. He wrote:
Is Harvard a place for a free Black man like myself whose Christian faith and witness put equal value on Palestinian and Jewish babies – like all babies – and reject all occupations as immoral?
After leaving Harvard, he returned to Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
Activism and Political Views
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West is a well-known activist who fights for justice and equality. He has described himself as a "non-Marxist socialist" and has been a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Views on Race
West often talks about racism in the United States. He believes that white supremacy has deeply affected American society. He says this has created pain and challenges for Black communities.
He has been arrested during protests against police brutality. In 2014, he was arrested in Ferguson, Missouri, while protesting the shooting of Michael Brown. He believes in peaceful protest to bring attention to injustice.
Political Involvement
West has been active in politics for many years. In 2000, he was an advisor for presidential candidate Bill Bradley. He later supported Ralph Nader's campaign.
Over the years, he has supported different political candidates. He was a strong supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders in his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns. West liked Sanders's ideas about reducing the power of big corporations and helping working-class people.
West has also been a critic of some political leaders. He supported Barack Obama in 2008 but later became a critic of his presidency. West felt that Obama did not do enough to help poor and working-class people.
2024 Presidential Campaign
In June 2023, Cornel West announced he was running for president in the 2024 United States presidential election. He first planned to run with the People's Party, then switched to seek the Green Party nomination.
Later, in October 2023, he decided to run as an independent candidate. He said he wanted to focus on issues like ending poverty, fighting climate change, and reducing military spending. His campaign did not gain widespread support, and he was no longer actively campaigning by the summer of 2024.
Appearances in Movies and Music
West is not just an academic; he is also a part of popular culture. He is famous for playing the role of Councillor West in the movies The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. He also provided commentary for the films, explaining their philosophical ideas.
He has appeared in many documentaries, including Examined Life, where he discusses philosophy while driving through New York City.
West has also recorded several albums that mix hip hop music with spoken-word poetry. His albums include Sketches of My Culture and Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations. He has worked with famous artists like Prince, Andre 3000, and Jill Scott.
Published Works
West has written many books throughout his career. Some of his most important works include:
- Prophesy Deliverance! An Afro-American Revolutionary Christianity (1982)
- The American Evasion of Philosophy: A Genealogy of Pragmatism (1989)
- Race Matters (1993)
- The Future of the Race (with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 1996)
- Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism (2004)
- Brother West: Living & Loving Out Loud (2009)
- The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto (with Tavis Smiley, 2012)
- Black Prophetic Fire (2014)
See also
In Spanish: Cornel West para niños
- American philosophy
- Black existentialism
- Christian left
- List of American philosophers
