Cornel West

For the residential section of Cornell University, see Cornell West Campus.

Cornel West
West in 2018
Born
Cornel Ronald West

(1953-06-02) June 2, 1953 (age 71)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Princeton University (MA, PhD)
Notable work
Political party
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Socialists of America (since 1982)[8][9]
Spouses
Hilda Holloman
​
​
(m. 1977, divorced)​
[10]
Ramona Santiago
​
​
(m. 1981; div. 1986)​
[11]
Elleni Gebre Amlak
​
​
(m. 1992, divorced)​
Leslie Kotkin
​
​
(m. 2015; div. 2018)​
Annahita Mahdavi
​
(m. 2021)​
EraContemporary philosophy
RegionWestern philosophy
School
InstitutionsUnion Theological Seminary
Yale University
Harvard University
Princeton University
Dartmouth College
University of Paris in Saint-Denis
ThesisEthics, Historicism and the Marxist Tradition (1980)
Doctoral advisorRaymond Geuss, Sheldon Wolin[3]
Doctoral studentsLeah Hunt-Hendrix[4]
Main interests
West's voice
From an interview published on June 9, 2015
Websitecornelwest.com Edit this at Wikidata

Cornel Ronald West (born June 2, 1953) is an American philosopher, theologian, political activist, politician, social critic, and public intellectual.[12]

The grandson of a Baptist minister, West's primary philosophy focuses on the roles of race, gender, and class struggle in American society. A socialist, West draws intellectual contributions from multiple traditions, including Christianity, the black church, democratic socialism, left-wing populism, neopragmatism, and transcendentalism.[13][14][15] Among his most influential books are Race Matters (1993) and Democracy Matters (2004). During his career, he has held professorships and fellowships at Harvard University, Yale University, Union Theological Seminary, Princeton University, Dartmouth College, Pepperdine University, and the University of Paris in Saint-Denis.[16] He has been featured in several documentaries, and made appearances in Hollywood films such as The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, as well as providing commentary for both films. West has also made several spoken word and hip hop albums. West is an outspoken voice in left-wing politics in the United States.

West was an independent candidate in the 2024 United States presidential election.

  1. ^ "Pragmatism". iep.utm.edu. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, University of Tennessee, Martin. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  2. ^ West, Cornel; Ritz, David (2009). Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. New York: SmileyBooks. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-4019-2677-9.
  3. ^ West, Cornel Ronald (1980). Ethics, historicism and the Marxist tradition (PhD). Princeton University. OCLC 934884084. ProQuest 303076528. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "Innovator Insights: Leah Hunt-Hendrix, Founder of Solidaire Network". Invested Impact. November 22, 2016. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Medium.com.
  5. ^ Trudo, Hanna (October 5, 2023). "Cornel West switches from Green Party presidential candidate to independent". The Hill. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  6. ^ "Cornel West Moves to Green Party in 2024 Presidential Run". Democracy Now!. June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  7. ^ Gans, Jared (June 14, 2023). "Cornel West seeking Green Party nomination for presidential run". The Hill. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  8. ^ Dorrien, Gary (2008). "IMAGINING SOCIAL JUSTICE: Cornel West's Prophetic Public Intellectualism". CrossCurrents. 58 (1): 9. ISSN 0011-1953. JSTOR 24461650.
  9. ^ "Letter from Cornel West to Michael Harrington". Democratic Socialists of America Records, Harrington Correspondence, Box 6A, Folder: March-April 1982. Tamiment Library. April 13, 1982.
  10. ^ West, Cornel; Ritz, David (2009). Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. New York: SmileyBooks. pp. 95, 107. ISBN 978-1-4019-2677-9.
  11. ^ West, Cornel; Ritz, David (2009). Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. New York: SmileyBooks. pp. 117–119, 139. ISBN 978-1-4019-2677-9.
  12. ^ Muwakkil, Salim (November 4, 2004). "Cornel West: Public Intellectual". In These Times. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  13. ^ "Cornel Ronald West." Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 33. Ed. Ashyia Henderson. Gale Group, 2002. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: The Gale Group. 2004.
  14. ^ Ward, Thomas (2004). "Cornel West y la política de conversión". Resistencia cultural: La nación en el ensayo de las Américas. Lima: Universidad Ricardo Palma: 344–348.
  15. ^ Nishikawa, Kinohi (2005). "Cornel West". In Ostrom, Hans; Macey, J. David Jr. (eds.). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of African American Literature. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 1714–18.
  16. ^ "Cornel West". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. September 13, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.