Dr. Cornel West Visits and Challenges the University of Arizona
Wednesday, 06 April 2011 16:02
Dr. Cornel West, a professor at Princeton and a renowned philosopher and intellectual on issues of racial justice, visited the University of Arizona last Friday to share his views on social equality.
Centennial Hall was nearly at capacity as Dr. West gave a passionate talk on the need for society to destroy their prejudices against others, using the metaphor of self denial and self death.
"To learn to die is to critically examine who we are," West told the crowd. "All of us have a presupposition that needs serious scrutiny, all of us have biases and prejudices and prejudgments that need serious interrogation. Any time you give up a prejudice, a presupposition, it's a form of death. And there is no maturity, there's no growth, there's no development without something dying inside of you."
He acknowledged that society needs to be educated on matters of social and racial justice in order to understand the value and importance of these issues at all.
"Education is what it means to be human. Education is trying to get us to engage in that shift, in that turning of the soul from the superficial to the substantial, from the frivolous to the serious, from the bling-bling on the surface to 'let freedom ring' in your heart."
West also said that this form of change and self denial can only come from a person who is aware of this need and is willing to make the difference.
"Keep in mind that no high quality form of life can flower and flourish without the courage to critically learn how to die," he said. "And no healthy society, especially those that have the audacity to call themselves democratic, can survive without having a significant slice of their fellow citizens willing to be courageous...not to fit in. We need more misfits."
After leaving time at the end for questions form the audience, West concluded by sharing his concerns for the lower and less fortunate classes, saying that their needs are too often overlooked by both members of society and by the government administration.
"We want to stay in motion, in momentum," West concluded. "Maybe then we can generate social movement. And sooner or later as that movement gets strong enough, they have to be willing to change. That's the only way we'll be able to come together . . . by keeping all weak brothers and sisters at the center."
Written by Kayla Lema You are reading Dr. Cornel West Visits and Challenges the University of Arizona articles
News
- Streetcar Construction Creates Difficulty for Downtown Businesses
- Take Back the Night: Cover it Live
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument clears air about dangers of the border
- Personal activism turns into motivation for demonstration
- Missing on the Border
- University of Arizona NROTC members may carry weapons on training hikes near Mexico
- The Reincarnation Tour: Celebrating a Vibrant and New Central Phoenix
- Identificame
Culture
People
Education
- Rap, Culture & God Lecture
- Cover it Live - CBP's Mario Escalante will share tips of how to be a better border reporter with SPJ.
- Cover it Live: Margaret Regan Talk on Arizona-Mexico Border Stories
- Similarities Emphasized at ‘Queer-ability’ Discussion
- The Essence of Gamma Alpha Omega
- Spanish Heritage Learner Program Enhances UA Education
- Arizona Women's Heritage Trail
- Border Beat Class
Health
Sports
- Cover it Live Boxing Training Session
- UA Decathlete Strives to Make the Most of Life in the US
- Ride Report- Premises Park Progress
- The Grip On Tucson Climbing
- Shootout decides 2012 Desert Diamond Cup Championship Game
- Soccer Success Still Kicking in Tucson
- L.A Galaxy v. New York Red Bulls
- La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo
Food
Related Items
Border Beat Blogs
Educación en la FronteraBy: Shannon Maule
A look at higher education in regard to those who have and have not been able to travel from various countries to the United States. Stories from people in the higher education world relating to the border.
A Mosaic AmericaBy: Rachel Kolinski
"Exploring Diversity one Face at a Time"
By: Hope Jamieson
Explore dance throughout the borderlands.
A City of Musical DiversityBy: Maria Teracena
Tucson musicians influence and are influenced by the sounds of the world.
Culture CrossingBy: Chelsey Barthel
American borders are crossed every day by cultures of all kind. These stories tell the personal experiences of people from different lands, offering further insight into the difference of cultures.
By: Lauren Inouye
A look at Mexican and Latin films that reflect culture, politics, and society -- reviews, research and analysis.
By: Charles Misra
Stories about martial arts and combat sports with a cultural twist, all finding a home in America's southwestern borderlands.
Border PeopleBy: Jamie Turow
Profiles of English language learners.
By: Jessica Hoerth
Meet some of the people in Tucson who have made the journey across the border as they share what they came in search of and what struggles they may have encountered along the way.
By: Lauren Urratio
Fashion and how it is impacted by the border and international cultures.
By: Lucy Valencia
News from along the border with Mexico
The Border ProjectBy: Melissa Guz
"The Border Project" is an art showcase located in the University of Arizona's Museum of Art. It has over 40+ art pieces related to border issues.
Athletics and the BorderBy: Preston Fawcett
Get to know high school coachs and athletes from Arizona border towns or from Mexico and their struggles to get to where they are.
By: Audrey A. Fitzsimmons
The Southwest boasts of diverse ethnic backgrounds and a wealth of interesting personalities. Border Personalities is dedicated to the people of the Southwest and their stories.
By: Jeff Kessler
U.S. - Mexico border issues, current events, and interesting local stories
Music of the BorderBy: Steven Schiraldi
Music reviews of musical works by Mexican or other ethnic artists.
By: Brett Haupt
A visual exploration of America’s last frontier -- pictures and videos from different areas of the wall and fence that separate two different worlds and insight into what really stands between the United States and Mexico, ramifications of wall building and what it means for the average citizen.
Border AthletesBy: Lauren Sokol
Meet international student athletes at the University of Arizona, a look at the recruiting process that helped them find a temporary home in the desert, and culture changes that the athletes might have endured.
Journey Across the BorderBy: Emily Kjesbo
Spotlighting Mexico’s top travel destinations, as well as a few of its hidden gems.
Border ShotsBy: Keith Perfetti
A photojournalist looks at how other photographers have viewed the border and shoots lesser known spots of the southwest.
MLS Soccer comes to the Desert
By: Jeff Kessler
All about the 2012 Desert Diamond Cup, a 10 day exhibition soccer tournament featuring four Major League Soccor teams coming to Tucson.