Cornel West is an American pastor and philosopher working at Princeton University. He was born in 1953 in a religious family. Since their early years, he took an active part in demonstrations and protests against segregation and discrimination. Cornel West was enrolled at Harvard University when he was 17 years old. In 1980, he famished his Doctoral Thesis and published his dissertation The Ethical Dimensions of Marxist Thought. For a long time, he worked as a professor at Harvard University and made a great contribution to development and popularization of the African-American studies.
Year 2001 was a turning point in his career as he argued with the President of Harvard University and decided to return to Princeton. West was awarded 20 honorary degrees and was perceived as a civil rights fighter. Thus, some of his works are criticized because of racial ideas and opportunism. In most of his works, West claims that the USA is a white society and its everyday life is determined and stipulated by norms and values of white majority. For many black people, racism is the cause of tremendous hostility within the society. In some communities, racial, sexual, and other derogatory remarks are transmitted through communication: hate remarks and hate males are commonplace.
The book Prophesy Deliverance reflects main ideas and viewpoints of Cornel West on the problem of racism and degradation. The second and the third chapters describe the roots and causes of modern racism and its proliferation in modern society. The second chapter, “A Genealogy of Modern Racism” determines the main stages of development and growth of racist thought in America. West describes that in competition, one race tries to overpower the other; during adaptation, one race surrenders his or her goals to maintain or establish a positive relationship with the other. Through avoidance the racial conflict is allowed to simmer. When this happens, both races, white and black, lose. In general, effective conflict consists of the following factors. All races involved in the dispute must be respected. Further, they must be encouraged to openly accept their differences.
The individual trying to resolve or mediate the racial conflict must give each nation unconditional regard and listen carefully to each person’s story without prematurely reaching a conclusion. This will require open-mindedness for different styles of storytelling and culturally different ways of reacting to racism. West uses Marxist theory to support and evaluate his arguments and viewpoints. He cites F. Nietzsche and M. Foucault describing “genealogical approach”. West states that: “my genealogical approach is a conception of power that is neither simply based on individual subjects – e.g. heroes or great patronages as in traditional historiography nor on collective subjects – e.g. groups, elites or others” (West 49). West underlines that it is really difficult to curtail and prevent discrimination based on race, color, gender, and national origin by implementing bias-free communication in the society.
“Modern discourse” is “controlled by metaphors, notions, categories and norms that shape the predominant conception of truth and knowledge” (West 50). And negative stereotypes are offensive; they cloud the fact that all human values are found in all racial groups. The growing hate directed at nationals shows this point. The fallout of that negative press accrued to countless blacks working in America. Even today, because of the war against discrimination, African-Americans are believed by many whites to be barbaric, uncultured, lascivious people. Similar images are projected to other workers whose nationality and origin have been associated with hostile actions. West underlines that stereotypical and negative beliefs about where men and women “belong”, in turn, lead to unequal social communication and other practices.
The third chapter, “the Four Traditions in Response” describes cultural and religious relations between nations and races. West underlines that the four constructions are: “exceptionalist, assimilation is, marginalist and humanist approaches” (West 70). Each of these approaches determines unique cultural and racial relations between whites and blacks in America. The seedbed for intercultural disagreement is the public system. The quality of today’s schools foreshadows the workforce of the future. Because the public communication and interaction prepare most of the workforce, if they falter, business and industry will have a different construction of workforce. Fascinatingly, education is usually the first institution blamed for racism and discrimination, and it is also seen as the key to future national survival.
Understanding the history of a racial group, the current stage of its national and social problems, and its relationships with other races is critical to recognizing and resolving cross-cultural communication. Specifically, a racial group’s reasons for coming or living in the USA can provide valid data pertaining to interracial conflict. Some racial groups are still searching for freedom from religious bullying that drove them from their native communities, or escapes from group prescription, or job opportunities not available in their native society. In his chapter, west cites historical examples and illustrates positive features and qualities of the African-American community. A special attention is given to religious values and traditions of this community in contrast to the lack of faith in white society. West cites examples from such leaders as W. Du Bois, Martin Luther King and Garvey.
I suppose that position and approach of West are interesting and fascinating. He creates a unique picture of racial development and growth of the African-American community and illustrates possible causes and reasons for racism. Even though every racial community has certain differences that lead to conflict, efficient functioning requires that it be controlled. If left unchecked, racism can destroy the stability and eventually the very existence of a community. Community, such as our, with many different nations, create special problems for people committed to assimilation. Most citizens belong to different races and are expected to conform to different and often contradictory norms. Conventionality to one set of norms is frequently tantamount to violation of another. Minimizing the importance of a racial conflict situation or denying that it exists may be expeditious but this will only allow the racism to simmer and escalate.
I disagree with West that modern American society is controlled and shaped by white men’s ideals and values. African-Americans and other national groups have a great impact on their culture and traditions. And racism raises the barrier of cultural differences between groups or individuals. When this happens, both minority-group and majority-group citizens misperceive their opportunities to cooperate. In the fray, disgruntled citizens often believe that the most individuals (people like themselves) are not selected to fill vacancies. Oppressed citizens are almost always expected to communicate their conditions. But most oppressed people in society are hesitant to admit that they need help. The book is interested I would recommend it to everyone who studies American history, cultural studies and sociology.
Works Cited
West, C. Prophesy Deliverance. Westminster John Knox Press; Anv edition, 2002.