I'm going to hear Cornel West speak on Thurs.

[RainDog]

and so can anyone else who will be in Bloomington, IN on Feb. 4th.

What do you guys think of West? I saw him on Tavis Smiley a few weeks ago, and I've been reading The Cornel West Reader.

anyone else have favorite from him?

I found a used copy of The War Against Families, but I don't think I'll be able to read it all before Thurs.

[Insider]

1. race matters

is the only one i've read. but i've seen him on tv and tape of speaking engagements. i always enjoy hearing & reading his analysis.

[tishaLA]

2. I also like Race Matters

although I wonder how I would feel about it today--I read it when it came out, which must be 10 years ago now. I also have read "Prophetic Though in Postmodern Times," which I also enjoyed (apparently "real" philosophers who like pragmatism are less smitten, however). His book with bell hooks, "Breaking Bread" was also good.

Edit: Must use spell check!

[ulysses]

3. a third for _Race Matters_

Good book. I like West.

[Az]

4. Met him years ago

He appeared at a Unitarian Universalist General Assembly I was a deligate to. He seemed to be a quite well informed indivdual. Very in touch with social movement and changes.

[RainDog]

5. He has an incredible essay on DuBois

in the book, "Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience."

it's literary-biographical jazz. he starts with the theme of DuBois as an Enlightenment figure and goes off on Kafka and Tolstoy and Richard Wright, especially Native Son, into his supreme love, Coltrane, gets back to the melody line with DuBois' emigration from America, and still finds a way to end on a hopeful refrain to start where DuBois' despair left off to compose a radical democracy in America.

btw, this book is an excellent resource and it's discounted about 80% at Borders.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

6. lucky for you...West is a good man, i would love to hear him speak again.

Race Matters

[DrWeird]

7. He was the only good thing in the Matrix sequels.

Never read him myself, but heard him talk and I think he's great. And the fact that he pisses off republicans means he's gotta be great.

[RainDog]

8. what did he do in the matrix sequels?

I loved the first twenty minutes of the first matrix, and after that...

anyway, I haven't seen the latest one, and frankly, all I remember about the second one was the incredibly loooooooong and boring fight sequences and interstate chases...oh, and the rave in the caves.

[liberalcapitalist]

9. huh?

What?

[RainDog]

10. he's The Conciliator or something like that

in The Matrix.

if you go to the Internet Movie Database and search for The Matrix Downloaded, you can find the name there.

[Az]

13. He played Councilor West

Ironically enough. He was one of the two vocal councilors of Zion. Practically jumped outa my seat when I saw him on the big screen.

[buddhamama]

11. i envy you

Race Matters is the only book of his that i have read; it received a thumbsup from me, As does Mr.West. I've heard him speak on radio programs,etc. He'll engage you and, if you're anything like me, change your thinking/perceptions.

[theboss]

12. I had him for a professor

It was Relgion 220, I believe. It was an interesting subject and he is an unbelievable lecturer. I still remember a lot from that class so he must have been a good professor.

I do think in recent years he has focussed more on his "schtick" than anything substantive. I mean, rap albums? Appearances in "The Matrix?" I'm not sure this is the area of a serious academic, especially since Harvard thought he was neglecting his professorial duties.