Cornel West Calls Melissa Harris-Perry A “Fraud”

[onpatrol98]

Cornel West Calls Melissa Harris-Perry A “Fraud”
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 19:48

http://www.blackamericans.com/news-stories/feature-stories/47228-cornel-west-calls-melissa-harris-perry-a-fraud

In what might be his strongest public comments yet, West referred to Harris-Perry as a “fake” and a “fraud” for allowing herself to be used by the liberal establishment to shoot down his critiques over our nation’s decision to overlook racial inequality and poverty.

I was quoted in the article, but only as a supporter of Dr. West. Anyone who evaluates Cornel West’s track record will see that he has consistently advocated for Black, Brown and poor people long before “hope” and “change” slogans were thrust on to our TV screens. In fact, Dr. West and Pastor Jeremiah Wright serve as our strongest modern-day embodiments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Similar to King, both of these men must endure the public volatility that comes with not running in lockstep with any flashy political trend.

When I heard what Cornel said about Melissa, my neck snapped like Nene Leakes bumping into a bill collector at a night club. I was both impressed and shocked that West had been so strong in his position on Harris-Perry, and I was glad to see that even millionaires aren’t afraid to tell the truth.

Sometimes when diplomacy fails and your people are being attacked, it’s time to go to war. When Cornel West spoke up honestly about the challenges of poor, Black and Brown people, alarm bells went off in liberal elitist America. As a professor at an elite university, West was supposed to do what the other elites have done: consider the poor only as an afterthought to planning your next vacation at Martha’s Vineyard.
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I didn't catch the name of the writer of this article. But, frankly...I'm speechless. I'll have to think about it. I've had my good thoughts and bad about Cornel West. I'll just have to think about the article. I am curious as to what the group thinks.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. Author lost me at

In fact, Dr. West and Pastor Jeremiah Wright serve as our strongest modern-day embodiments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I am not a fan of Harris-Perry but West's resorting to nasty ad hominems will reduce the credibility and effectiveness of his points.

[onpatrol98]

2. Circular firing squad

I guess it just seems like a circular firing squad. Maybe that's causing the discomfort for me.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. It looks to be significantly personal on both sides

Academic food fights get like that...there is no ego like an academic one.

He brought her to the "big name school", she does not toe his line, he made sure she did not make full professor. It is certainly not the first time that has happened in the history of academia

West has gone after Sharpton as well.

[provis99]

4. and for another opinion of Cornell West's tactics:

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/06/02/tavis-smiley-and-cornel-west-the-reign-of-fools-is-over/

[onpatrol98]

5. Which confirms my notion of...

they are standing around shooting at each other...friendly fire, that isn't very friendly or helpful.

[kwassa]

6. West and Smiley have been eclipsed, and don't handle it well

Obama's ascendency to the White House reduced their role as Spokesmen for Black America. It was their main stock-in-trade. Their livelihood and egos have been threatened by the success of Obama.

[onpatrol98]

10. Bingo...

You know what...I think this explains it well. In many ways, they have been rendered obsolete. They don't know how to regroup and work together for the common good. Either that or they refuse to.

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. I have been saying this from the outset. These brothers, with their bruised egos can do much...

more damage than good. And the way Dr. West has gone after Pres. Obama and black supporters like Melissa & Rev. Sharpton can't be good for him, or for us as a people.

[Number23]

7. What a biased, embarrassingly stupid article

And I'm still glad that you posted it, onpatrol. If for no other reason then I now know that anytime I see Boyce Watkins' name to just keep right on stepping.

The author is obviously a fan of Corny's. Comments like:

Well, in full overseer tradition, the Democrats have created well-paid African-American attack dogs willing to defend their actions at any cost. Since Harris-Perry and her friends had no legitimate defense to the critiques of Dr. West, they presumed that it would be easier to simply discredit him. You see, if you kill the messenger, you never have to deal with the message itself.

are so laughably idiotic they almost don't merit a response. And for the record, I'm pretty sure that MHP has responded to each and every one of Corny's "critiques" of this president. Probably why he went after her so hard and denounced her as a "fake." Cornel seems to be as thin-skinned as he is irrelevant.

But MHP is now in some very good company. I'll take her and the president, who if you all remember, Corny decided was "afraid of free black men" any day of the week over that relic.

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Amen to that!

But MHP is now in some very good company. I'll take her and the president, who if you all remember, Corny decided was "afraid of free black men" any day of the week over that relic.

[Number23]

8. More:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/08/al-sharpton-melissa-harris-perry-cornel-west_n_1263522.html

http://blacksnob.com/snob_blog/2012/2/9/not-helping-cornel-west-calls-melissa-harris-perry-a-liar-fa.html

Love the Black Snob

[piscesnewmoon]

11. I listen to Rev. Al every day on the radio--he's become a

complete sycophant. Same with Harris-Perry. They've lost all credibility.

[Number23]

12. If you think they've "lost all credibility"

then everyone with a clue must think the complete opposite.

Hopefully, their already shining stars will shine even brighter now.

[SemperEadem]

13. well said

I think that West's personal assault on MHP and not her opinions and views shows that dr. reverend brotherman isn't quite as evolved and enlightened as he wishes we would believe him to be. It was a low blow, low class thing to engage in in the public sphere.... completely beneath someone not only with as much education as he is supposed to have, but someone who wear a theologian's collar. He owes her and all of us an apology for shitting all over her the way he did. It was uncalled for and vulgar of him to do this.