Cornel West's Quest
We disagree on many things—but not the basics
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I’ve been resolutely non-partisan all my life. Having been born in Washington, D.C., where the only major industry is politics, Blue-Red factionalism appeals to me about as much as meat-packing did to Upton Sinclair. “Bismark was right,” a German friend told me years ago. “No one really wants to know how the laws are made, any more than they want to know how sausage is.”
Yet…when I watched the animated and articulate Cornel West announce his bid to occupy The White House in 2025, I decided to dig a bit into his background.
And, lo and behold, though our backgrounds are very different, and he and I could hardly disagree more as regards many of his policy prescriptions, we share many of the same heroes, including W. E. B. Du Bois, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Grace Lee Boggs, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Edward Said…and other leaders in the quest for social justice and equal opportunity; for all.
Also, as with so many consequential leaders, I found that West’s accomplishments were anchored by the principles he’d learned as a youth. His code of ethics wasn’t forged at Harvard, where he arrived at age 17, and was mentored by the first Black faculty member to receive tenure in 324 years. Nor did the Tulsa-born firebrand pick them up at Princeton, where he was the first Black to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy in 210 years. Nor in the course of researching and writing his 22 books, teaching his countless courses, or debating some of the most brilliant people on the planet…
West’s code of conduct was forged by his mother, Irene, an inspiring teacher and principal during the early days of integration…his father, Lawrence, who worked for the U.S. Department of Defense…his talented siblings, Cliff, Cheryl & Cynthia…and friends like Mel Cuckovich…
And what were these principles? What are the lessons that continue to drive this impassioned, industrious and energetic 70-year old?
Principle 1. We’re all brothers and sisters, worthy of unconditional love.
Though West always says he grew up on “the chocolate side of Sacramento,” his home, school and church were all-embracing places where everyone was welcomed and loved…no matter their race, ethnicity or other demographics. He often talks of how miraculous and paradoxical it is that true and lasting unity only comes about by virtue of diversity. How it’s our differences that bind us together…especially when we aspire to serve the Greater Good.
Principle 2. Nothing gets done without civil dialogue.
In 1968, at age 15, during the first year of Ronald Reagan’s 8-year tenure as Governor of California—West confronted him; got right in his face and told the Gipper that his policies were wrong and unjust. Yet West made his point politely and deferentially. Reagan didn’t agree with the precocious teenager but he respected his integrity and civility, as well as his passion. West still comports himself this manner, which has a lot to do with why he’s respected not only by Anderson Cooper and Rachel Maddow but also by Russell Brand and Joe Rogan; the latter calling his West podcast “one of my all-time favorites.”
Principle 3. Turn the other cheek—at least 99% of the time.
It’s not surprising that Dr. West agreed with Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violence, given the fact that his mother took him to see and hear King preach at age 10. West was blown away. But when his elementary school teacher slapped him across the face for refusing to stand for The Pledge of Allegiance (because Cornel couldn’t shake the horrific, hypocritical image of his relative, who’d been lynched and whose body hung from a tree limb, wrapped in an American flag)—he hit her back, and was expelled.
Principle 4. You can’t cherry-pick your ethics.
Sacramento’s Black Panther Party headquarters were located right across the street from Shiloh Baptist Church, where West spent much of his youth, especially on weekends. Though he never joined the Party, he agreed with many of the charges the Panthers were leveling against the white-run establishment. The role of a Higher Power was the biggest bone of contention. “They hated religion,” says West. But the music that was almost always playing at Party headquarters was religiously infused— from Marvin Gaye to The Staple Singers. The Panthers had a hard time rebutting the brilliant kid who kept talking about the militants’ “cognitive dissonance” and how they shouldn’t “throw out the baby with the bathwater.” Amen.
Principle 5. If you dispense with the silly stuff, you’ll go a lot further, a lot faster.
West has no interest in Armani suits or fancy sports cars. Because he insists he’s never once shaved during his adult life, we know he’s saved money (and time) on razors and shaving cream. His no-frills utilitarianism is reminiscent both of Hebrew prophets like Amos and early U.S. Quakers like John Woolman, for whom simplicity was a tenet of their faith, and felt spending money and time on superfluous matters was a sinful waste of sacred (and scarce) resources.
Principle 6. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Given his intellectual gravitas and the fact that all he wears is what Dr. King used to call “Cornel’s cemetery clothes” (black 3-piece suit, black tie, starched white shirt)—you might think West prefers sackcloth to stand-up comedy. You’d be wrong. He’s a very funny guy who enjoys the Divine Comedy in its entirety.
While I can’t say I feel that Dr. West is the right person to occupy The White House, I do like his campaign slogan: “Justice is what love looks like in public.” I also agree that whoever is living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue should make it the epicenter of truth and justice…in order to help unleash the best of this great country.
References and Additional Reading:
Jill Stein Explains Why Cornel West is the Right Person for America in 2024
Cornel West: Neoliberalism Has FailedUs
Great article Eric, thanks.