Cornel West Gives lecture

Convocations revived with West's speech on community

Cornel West, professor of African-American Studies and the Philosophy of Religion at Harvard University, spoke to a crowded Finney Chapel on Tuesday evening. Although the lecture was entitled Learning and Labor: Building Community Through Service, West expounded upon affirmative action, race relations and ethnic studies while incorporating Tolstoy, KRS-One and his grandmother .

The first campus convocation in several years was unique from other visits by speakers at Oberlin, according to President Nancy Dye. The agenda included Catholic Chaplain Fr. Edward Kordas, the Miro String Quartet, Dye, OC'97 Class President Sergio Acevedo and West.

The convocation was long an Oberlin tradition, allowing the college to gather in one place to hear lectures, play music and share opinions. Dye introduced West as a man who "celebrates decency and dignity of ordinary people."

West, the author of eleven books including Keeping the Faith and Race Matters, spoke about the tradition of struggle, institutional discrimination, race problems, white supremacy and market mentality and values.

Throughout the lecture, West spoke emphatically about the struggles people have dealt with in the United States as well as across the world, including the struggles for freedom and democracy. He spoke in an unwavering expressive voice, that made even the words "God bless you," after a sneeze seem powerful.

He began the lecture with a list of "brother and sisters" who had struggled for freedom and democracy in their lives. He spoke dynamically, often moving away from the podium to turn to either side. His voice volume changed expressively and he used his arms to gesture.

West said, "The struggle is waning," and asked, "Why?"

He discussed race problems and the legacy of white supremacy in the nation. He said, "Race is a construct. It has had deep consequences."

His comments about the degredation of black people's bodies created by society's definition of beauty were met with applause from the audience.

Throughout his speech, West drew links among the struggles of peoples from cultures all over the world and foregrounded the commonalities among humanity by citing sources such as George Clinton and Frederich Neitzche almost in the same breath.

He stressed the complexity of humanity, saying that the fact that Thomas Jefferson owned slaves does not negate his brilliant ideas about democracy. Likewise, he said, there are positive and negative aspects of the mission of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakahn.

"Whatever Minister Farrakahn calls, there'll be controversey. He would say, `Drink orange juice on Monday,' and there'd be controversy."

West also expressed his feelings on the current debate of affirmative action. He accused critics of affirmative action of "scapegoating the most vulnerable."

In his speech, West also spoke of the need for art. He told the audience of his love of Louis Armstrong, Curtis Mayfield and John Cougar Mellencamp's music. He said that Armstrong's music can touch one's soul.

West identified himself as "a democrat with a small `d' and a Christian with a big `C'" But he added that he constantly wrestles with who he is. West said that there is a need for people to instill non-market values in their lives, including love, caring and concern. Although he said he is neither an optimist nor a pessimist, West ended his speech by saying that he is a "prisoner of hope."

West urged his listeners to keep their eye on the prize and their hands on the plow. To illustrate, he told the story of saxophonist John Coltrane who "blew his horn 18 hours a day, slept with the reed in his mouth and woke up blowing."

West remained after the speech for a question and answer session. He tirelessly answered questions, thanking each interrogator for his question. He continued to quote names and dates, citing art and ideologies, answering question after question. Dye was forced to gently remind West that it was late. Although many students had already been driven out of the chapel by the heat and the need to study, at 10:30, the convocation adjourned.

Photo:

Top: Cornel West:West, a leading intellectual and author delivered a lecture. (photo by Mike Oleson)
Bottom: Questions and Answers:Students and community members brought questions to West. (photo by Mike Oleson)