Author News and Book Reports
Cornel West walks the tightrope of hope, living and loving out loud in the Age of Obama
With an introduction by PBS-TV and Public Radio International host Tavis Smiley at the 2009 BookExpo America (BEA) book trade show, American moral and religious philosopher, author, critic, actor, and civil rights activist Cornel West outlined the substance of his recent book, Hope On A Tightrope (Hay House; November, 2008), recently released in paperback (ReadHowYouWant; December, 2009), and his memoir, Brother West: Living And Loving Out Loud (Smiley Books; October, 2009), a title inspired by Bob Dylan, about growing up in Sacramento to become one of America's leading intellectuals. Denouncing the notion that the Age of Obama signifies a 'post-racial' America, as the media has popularly declared, West argued that America is simply 'less racist.' Responding to a question from the audience, West explained his preference for addressing someone as 'brother' or 'sister', as opposed to more formal titles, before reminiscing about his troubled youth and the people who steered him in more constructive directions. Drawing a parallel with the Obama Administration's efforts to establish bi-partisanship, West took issue with the view that Abe Lincoln was politically progressive in his day, pointing out that Lincoln had voted for slavery before he became president and was pushed into his role in history as the Great Emancipator by the Abolitionist populist movement. West wrapped the interview with a shout out to progressive voices for their leadership on social issues; reflected on the nature of eloquence; and speculated on what happens next in the Age of Obama.
