Dr. Cornel West Salutes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://thesnapper.com/2010/02/04/dr-cornel-west-salutes-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/
By Danielle Kreider
February 4, 2010
Uproarious clapping and shouting were the sounds heard coming
from the Pucillo Gymnasium on Jan. 28. MU NAACP College Chapter and
the Black Student Union presented one of America's most provocative
public intellectuals, Dr. Cornel West, a professor at Princeton
University. Dr. West celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., race, and
democracy.
Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El, professor of Psychology and Director of
African American Studies, made the Program's opening remarks. Rian
Reed, president of MU NAACP, then gave a warm welcome. Christopher
Deans, president of MU Black Student Union, introduced Dr. West to
the audience.
Dr. Cornel West then gave salutes to all who introduced him along
with others instrumental in getting him to speak at Millersville. Dr.
West's humorous fashion and inquisitive voice kept the audience
intrigued for the entire duration of the speech.
He referred to African Americans as "chocolate folk" and compared MU
to Philadelphia in respect to "all the black folk in powerful positions at MU."
Dr. Cornel West then went on to gear his lecture toward Martin
Luther King Jr. being "part of a wave of the ocean, a movement in the
1960s that changed America today."
He referred to Martin Luther King Jr. as "the most dangerous man in
America" as he "cut against the grain." Dr. West said that "Martin
Luther King Jr. was a testament of love of the people, starting with
the least opportune."
He also said that there is a difference between success and greatness
in that, "Martin Luther King Jr. was not successful when he died, but
great. Greatness has to do with the quality of love." Dr. West said,
"individuals, communities, cities, and the world" is what Martin
Luther King Jr.'s legacy is based on.
A sense of funk was brought by Dr. West's charisma, "don't
confuse funk with a pop-culture phenomena."
Education was referred to as "intellectual vertigo." He then went on
to say, "it takes more courage to examine one's soul, than it does to
fight on the battlefield." Dr. West put a strong emphasis on being
non-materialistic and giving back to the community and others.
Dr. West then went on to discuss politics and current events,
and referred to the young African-American as "Jamal."
He stated that the "moral constipation in Washington and the people
in Washington dealing with and facing the problems in America,
they're more worried about bringing in the money for the next election."
In reference to American terrorism, he said "there is no black
Al-Qaida in America because the blacks did not respond the way the
terrorists did when they felt suppressed, but seek justice. Justice
is what love looks like in public."
Still in accordance with politics, "America is not post-racial, just
voting less on pigmentation and more on qualification, and just being
a good citizen." Dr. West declared poverty as being a "national disgrace."
He then went on to give the following statistic about racial
differentials in the judicial system: In comparison to "the white man
getting caught with cocaine… or Jamal getting caught with a small
amount of marijuana…implying that the black man would have further
repercussions. Soft drugs are a large part of the punishments handed
down to the blacks; there are 13 percent white and 13 percent black
in jail for drugs. Sixty-two percent of those are black."
Dr. West then went on to refer to President Barack Obama as
"black and beautiful," and questioned if he would have won the
election if he was not beautiful.
Obama's administration was then brought to light with the statement
"respect and correct go hand-in-hand. Smartness and braininess is
necessary but not sufficient today. We need more truth and justice
in the age of Obama."
He summed up his speech with, "We need to take more of a risk, a
chance that we could actually be wrong."
At the end of the speech Dr. West received a standing ovation.
A question and answer session was allowed with the audience once the
lecture was over. Dwight Horsey, Assistant VP for Student Affairs and
Director of Financial Aid, finally gave closing remarks.
--------
The message of a King
http://www.ubspectrum.com/article/41236
David Sanchirico
February 08 2010
Martin Luther King Jr. may be 42 years deceased, but Dr. Cornel
West showed Friday night that King's teachings are everlasting.
West reiterated King's messages throughout UB's 34th Annual
Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Event at The Center for the
Arts. Those in attendance nodded in agreement as West preached the
word of Dr. King during a one-hour lecture, followed by a 50-minute
question-and-answer session with the audience.
West hit upon a bevy of topics affecting America today, but it
all came back to Dr. King and one existential idea.
"Learning how to die means what? You're forced to examine
assumptions and presumptions you had," West said. "It's called
education, and Brother Martin learned how to die."
He began the lecture by thanking the Buffalo community and UB's
leaders, from President John B. Simpson to SA President Ernesto
Alvarado, for making this event possible.
To Simpson, West is one of the best individuals to speak of King's legacy.
"The annual Martin Luther King celebration has been a profound
and important commemoration at UB, and Cornel West is a charismatic
man who is ideally suited for this event," Simpson said.
Sherryl Weems, Director of UB's Educational Opportunity Center,
agreed that West's credentials made him the right man for the event.
"Brother West has a complex mind and safeguards a complicated
soul," Weems said. "My favorite reflection of his: you can't lead the
people if you don't love the people. You can't save the people, if
you don't serve the people."
After acknowledging the people that made the commemoration
possible, West saluted King with a simple, but heartfelt message. To
West, King should be remembered for what he was: a fighter for the
quest of unarmed truth.
"We love you Brother Martin, we need you, we will never forget
you," West said. "You will never undergo the process of Santaclaus-ification."
King was one of the figures that helped West learn how to die.
Now a 56-year-old author and Princeton professor, West was a child
filled with rage who, according to him, was destined for jail. At one
point, he hit one of his teacher's and was kicked out of school.
But things turned around. King and many others inspired West. In
high school, West began to read and fight for Civil Rights, and a few
years later, he was a 17-year-old Sacramento kid traveling the length
of the United States to attend Harvard University.
West mentioned how King's quest and his objection to the Vietnam
War weren't popular, but King wanted to bring everyone together.
"Anybody that is serious about the quest for unarmed truth must
be willing to pay the price," West said. "King had the same
disapproval rates as George W. Bush. When he came against the war,
everyone was against him. Black folks were against him."
West's appreciation of King showed during Friday's lecture. West
spoke of King's life as a normal child as a point to inspire those
that they can succeed.
"[King] wasn't always Martin Luther King Jr.," West said. "He
was once little Martin just running around the fields of Atlanta."
He made this point to show that progress could be made.
West believes some progress was made with President Barack
Obama's election in Nov. 2008, but people were blindsided by the
change rhetoric Obama spilled in his speeches.
Even though West campaigned for Obama during 67 events, he won't
be sold until he sees results, and right now he's entirely skeptical of Obama.
"I told him, 'I'll break-dance in the night [if you win], but
I'd wake up the next day as his critic,' " West said, "He was seduced
to those tied to the strong and the ones with money."
This abidance to powerful Americans has left many problems
unsolved, including many problems affecting poor African Americans.
Part of West believes that Obama has alienated these people while in office.
"I believe in the rule of law. How come no torture [overseas] is
investigated, but Jamal on the corner with a crack rock is prosecuted
to the fullest extent," West said. "President Obama needs to be
protected, but also needs to be corrected."
The most powerful messages were made during the
question-and-answer portion. Concerned Western New York citizens
voiced their worries in their questions and sought West for help.
Topics including education, the dying breed of young African American
teens, and unconditional love were mentioned.
On the topic of poor Americans of all races getting together in
peace, West said that this is as important as ever. According to him,
America sends the wrong message to these people, leaving them with
little to no hope for the future.
It's up to Americans to forego individual differences and come
together for change.
"Everyday people are too little to rescue, but big companies are
too big to fail. We fail, and it's ok, but the banks don't fail,"
West said. "We need grassroots organizing, not Astroturf connecting."
According to West, these examples are driving down America.
There are not enough examples of success, and no positive role models
to inspire youths. Until this changes, motivation will be lacking.
"If you witness wise examples, it equals wise judgments," West
said. "When you see concrete examples of compassion, they become contagious."
But whatever the topic, whatever the issue, it was all reverted
back to Dr. King and his messages. As King gained inspiration from
President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionists in the 19th century,
modern Americans can use King's words towards the movement of what's right.
"Martin Luther King Jr. is not an isolated individual to put on
a pedestal; he's a wave in an ocean," West said.
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