Cornel West Challenges Crowd at CSUSB

Prominent social critic, author, academic and political activist Cornel West spoke to an audience of more than 1,200 people who came to Cal State San Bernardino’s Coussoulis Arena on Jan. 25 for “An Evening with Dr. Cornel West.” The event, sponsored by the university’s Associated Students Inc., featured insights from West on topics that included racism, education, advocacy, social justice and American society. In a talk that was at times uplifting, challenging, demanding of social justice and honesty, West spoke of the need for all to speak out and work together. “I’m saying that we’ll never be able to transmit and bequeath the best of the past to the younger generation unless we follow the anthem of Black people, which is to lift every voice,” West said. “It doesn’t say lift every echo.” After his talk, West sat down to answer questions including what key steps young people could take to change the state of the current political environment. West said the first thing young people have to do “is to love and respect yourself. To try to understand what your calling is in life and to never confuse your calling with your career. The fire inside of you can take a number of forms in terms of the kinds of jobs that you have, but if you’re true to your calling, you’ll be able to go from context to context and preserve your integrity and honesty and decency and courage.”