Cornell West

Cornell West is a democratic intellectual who is both provocative and prominent. He attended Harvard University, and graduated in three years magna cum laude. He then obtained his MA as well as his PhD in philosophy from Princeton University. In 1943 the graduating class of Princeton University named him the university professor of the year. Since that time he is taught at Harvard, the University of Paris, and Union theological seminary. He is written 19 books. He has also edited 13 books. Today he regularly appears on talk shows and news interviews. He is also heard weekly on a National Public Radio program.

The bulk of the work done by West focuses on gender, race, and class within American society. He focuses on the means by which people act to their racial predispositions, or react to them. He draws many intellectual contributions from many different sources including transcendentalism, Marxism, neopragmatism, Christianity, and the black church. Two of his most influential books among the total 19 include the book titled race matters which was published in 1994, and the book democracy matters which was published in 2004. He is a regular media commentator for social issues. He is appeared on multiple networks and programs. He cohosted a radio program into thousand 10, the same radio program on which he appears weekly today. He's been featured in multiple documentaries, and has also made appearances in the films the matrix reloaded, and the matrix revolutions. In addition to all of these achievements, he has made many hip-hop albums and spoken word albums. MTV named him artist of the week for these contributions

West was born in Oklahoma, in the city of Tulsa. He grew up in the city of Sacramento. His father was a general contractor who worked for the Defense Department and his mother was a teacher. As a young man he organized protests to demand that black studies courses be given in his local high school. He served as class president during this time. He also marched in civil rights demonstrations. Later in life, he reflected that during his use the defiant rage of the Black Panther party in conjunction with the black militancy of Malcolm X, and the black theology of James Cohen all influenced him. He noted that after college, it was Christianity which prevented him from actually joining the Black Panther party. Instead he opted to work in local church programs and prisons.

He is received over 20 honorary degrees as well as an American book award. He now serves as the honorary chair for the Democratic socialists of America, works on the advisory board for the international bridges to justice, and is a cofounder for many other organizations. He's received special recognition from the world cultural council and is a member of the Alpha phi Alpha fraternity.