Symposium inaugurates CC’s Center for study of race, ethnicity

Cornel West

Cornel West, one of America’s leading intellectuals on topics of democracy and public life and a professor of religion at Princeton University, will speak at CC on April 22. West has been praised by the New York Times for his “ferocious moral vision and astute intellect” and by Newsweek as “an elegant prophet with attitude.”

His talk at 3:30 p.m. in John C. Evans Hall at Cummings Arts Center culminates a two-day symposium dedicated to West’s newest book, Democracy Matters (Penguin Books, 2004), on April 21-22. The symposium is sponsored by the Connecticut College Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity (CCSRE).

“Cornel West is one of our leading public intellectuals. Bringing together world-renowned scholars, community activists, and students in this symposium on Professor West’s work is a wonderful capstone for the inaugural year of the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity,” said David Kyuman Kim, director of the Center.

In addition to West’s lecture, the symposium will include a student panel, a workshop by community activists and a panel titled “Cornel West and the Call For Radical Democracy,” which will feature:

- Stanley Aronowitz, professor of sociology at City University of New York;

- Farrah Griffin, director of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University;

- Candace Howes, Barbara Hogate Ferrin ’43 Professor of Economics at Connecticut College; and

- Mab Segrest, Fuller-Maathai Professor of Gender & Women’s Studies at Connecticut College.

A lecture by Ernesto Cortes, Jr., Industrial Areas Foundation & Interfaith Education Fund (and MacArthur “genius” grant recipient) will be held on Friday, April 21 at 4:30 p.m.

For a schedule of events go to http://www.conncoll.edu/academics/centers/ccsre/events.html.

In Democracy Matters, West decries the rise of “an ugly imperialism” in the United States. He argues that genuine democracy is being snuffed out by unbridled capitalism, aggressive militarism and escalating authoritarianism. West is encouraged, though, by three American traditions: questioning authority, being committed to justice, and not losing hope.

He writes, “The greatest intellectual, moral, political, and spiritual resources in America that may renew the soul and preserve the future of American democracy reside in [its] multiracial, rich democratic heritage.” The nation needs a democratic awakening and activist energy to keep its “democratic project” afloat, he says.