PREVIEW: A conversation with Dr. Cornel West

Last week, I had a conversation with the self-professed “bluesman in the life of the mind” and “jazzman in the world of ideas,” Dr. Cornel West.  He talked with me about President Barack Obama’s first year in the White House and spoke with me about the historical significance and the modern-day application of the black political agenda.

West, the renowned philosopher, author, teacher, civil rights activist and university professor at Princeton University, is heavily acclaimed for his participation in a variety of fields, including appearing in two sequels of “The Matrix,” playing a Zion Elder called Councilor West.  He is a concert violinist, a deep Christian, a faithful soldier for justice and the author of 18 books, plus his most recent, a memoir titled, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Sacramento, California, West graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and went on to complete his PhD at Princeton. The winner of numerous awards, including the American Book Award, he has also received more than twenty honorary degrees.

This interview was my first podcast.  I could think of no better person to do my first podcast with than Dr. West (thinking about his captivating and provocative style of delivering a message).  Naturally, I was concerned and rather befuddled with the technical aspects of actually doing a podcast, a process which requires recording your telephone conversation via your computer. However, I found Dr. West to be not only candid, forthright and thoughtful — which is to be expected — but also quite patient with me and my desire to record the conversation.

I’ve always known that Dr. West had an immeasurable respect for bearing witness to truth and justice, and as the interview progressed, that fact became even more evident. It was an honor and pleasure to have the opportunity to speak with him.

Below is a sample of our interview last Monday.   The interview will be posted in its entirety on Tuesday, February 23, exclusively on Race-Talk and the Huffington Post.

LISTEN TO A PREVIEW OF MY INTERVIEW WITH DR. WEST