Love & Justice
From Tamir Rice to Akai Gurley the names of African American men and boys killed by police keep piling up. The lack of a grand jury indictment in the Michael Brown case in Ferguson sparked a protest movement with signs and shouts of “Hands Up. Don’t Shoot” and “Black Lives Matter.” The death of Eric Garner in New York was videoed around the world. His plea of “I Can’t Breathe” became a rallying cry. Many people are asking where is justice? Illusions have been shattered that we live in a “post-racial” society. Fundamental questions are being raised. Is property more important than people? Racism, poverty and inequality run deep. African-Americans are disproportionately incarcerated. Dr. King believed in the transformative power of love and as he said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
Recorded at Town Hall.
Speaker
Cornel West
Cornel West is Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard. He has been called “the preeminent African American intellectual of his generation.” With his preacher-like cadences and passionate delivery, he is much in demand as a speaker. Among his many books are Race Matters, The Rich and the Rest of Us and Black Prophetic Fire.
Amy –
Sat listening with powerful tears as he so eloquently named our struggles. I was saying out loud, “who is this speaker?!” and “everyone needs to hear this”… Such good work and mixing of scholarship with real love and the wisdom of living.
John –
Brilliant commentary! Must order transcript and MP3 today.
Joan Oliver –
I had one of those “stay in the car listening to WAMC” moments yesterday at noon transfixed by this man Cornel West – and the message. Especially the analogy of how popular music reflects the times – comparing the harmony of 60s Motown artists and the current pop icons promulgated by media money. Brilliant! And I have not listened to it in its entirety. Just purchasing the MP3 and the transcript. I will be back.