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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Fascinating and challenging book which features 6 conversations (about W.E.B. Dubois, Frederick Douglass, MLK, Jr, Ella Baker, Malcom X, and Ida B. Wells) between Cornel West and German scholar Christa Buschendorf. It was over my head at times (Cornel West REALLY likes to throw around names), but raised interesting questions about leadership and prophetic tradition, about the role of music and faith in activism, about the potential loss of integrity the closer you get to the system, and the cost of charismatic leadership and fierce ideals. None of these towering figures in American history were perfect, or led perfectly, and West constantly repeats how each one was necessary for the next, or to complement the next, and how no one's influence would have been as profound without the countless people in the movements surrounding them.
This one I got from the library -- but I want to buy it because I need to sit with it a little longer.
This one I got from the library -- but I want to buy it because I need to sit with it a little longer.
“The Black prophetic tradition surely begins on the chocolate side of town, but like the blues and jazz, it has a universal message for all human beings concerned about justice and freedom.” Interesting read, especially regarding his critiques of Obama now that West himself is a presidential candidate. Interview format was easy to read & I appreciated Buschendorf’s contributions.
Cornel West first came to my attention during the events in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014. I'm a little embarrassed to say that because I feel like I should have known of him before and I feel like I've missed out because I haven't. Every time I hear him talk or read a tweet of his I learn something or see a different perspective.
Black Prophetic Fire is made up of a series of conversations between West and Christa Buschendorf (no slouch is she, either!) highlighting six revolutionary African American leaders - Frederick Douglass, W.E.B Du Bois, Martin Luther King Jr., Ella Baker, Malcolm X and Ida B. Wells.
Fascinating, educational, enlightening reading - now I'm off to learn more about these people, West included.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
What does it profit a people for a symbolic figure to gain presidential power if we turn our backs from the suffering of poor and working people, and thereby lose our souls? The Black prophetic tradition has tried to redeem the soul of our fragile democratic experiment. Is it redeemable?
As enamored as I was by the novelty of the format, I did not enjoy what little I made it through of this. It felt like overhearing a conversation at dinner that is clearly informed but mostly pretentious. It sparked my interest in the people they discussed, but overall left me feeling talked down to and totally disengaged.
Fascinating and challenging book which features 6 conversations (about W.E.B. Dubois, Frederick Douglass, MLK, Jr, Ella Baker, Malcom X, and Ida B. Wells) between Cornel West and German scholar Christa Buschendorf. It was over my head at times (Cornel West REALLY likes to throw around names), but raised interesting questions about leadership and prophetic tradition, about the role of music and faith in activism, about the potential loss of integrity the closer you get to the system, and the cost of charismatic leadership and fierce ideals. None of these towering figures in American history were perfect, or led perfectly, and West constantly repeats how each one was necessary for the next, or to complement the next, and how no one's influence would have been as profound without the countless people in the movements surrounding them.
This one I got from the library -- but I want to buy it because I need to sit with it a little longer.
This one I got from the library -- but I want to buy it because I need to sit with it a little longer.