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Title: Race Matters by Cornel West ISBN: 0-679-74986-1 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 29 March, 1994 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.42 (50 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Stimulating though incomplete
Comment: In "Race Matters" West is concerned solely with with the current state of black America. Curiously - perhaps to a fault - missing from the picture is a discussion of pervasive economic poverty thet plagues black America, a staple of most race discussions. Instead he dwells on the psychic state of a victimized people. Thus the book is more psychological than sociological and his proposed remedies dwell on forging new attitudes rather than on drawing strategies from social statistics. This is primarily the work of a moralizer.
Moralizing is not necessarily a fault in the book. His aim here appears more topical than long-term, suggesting that attitudes must change before movements start. As he sees it, the main obstacle facing black action lies in a widespread emergence of nihilism across the black multitudes. Hence the question is how to overcome the kind of value-negation that prevents real constructive action. His antidote focuses on love and care - two seeming throwbacks to 19th century romanticism and perhaps dismissable on that basis. Nevertheless, considering the crux of the problem as he describes it, the recommended solution has genuine merit. How else can people demand justice unless they feel worthy of it.
That West would operate on a moral level rather than a sociological one is not surprising. His attachment to M. L. King and the prophetic tradition remains uppermost despite the high regard displayed elsewhere for Marx's work, among others. However, when he calls for more coalition work among progressives - a worthy goal - his overtures show little potential for reaching beyond the preachment stage, largely because he dwells on race to the apparent exclusion of class. Yet taking on the propagators of negative and nihilistic stereotypes in the media means taking on the class forces that denigrate not only blacks, but denigrate labor, gays, and other groups as well. Putting muscle into cultural reform means joining with other despised groups in challenging the owners and propagators of the negative imagery. In short, overturning cultural barriers requires both social analysis and class action. I think West appreciates this materialist point of view, but his Christian heritage and prophetic vision threaten to restrict his work to the confines of liberal politics, the very brand of politics responsible in large part for the current predicament.
Much else of value remains in the book. His discussion of Malcolm X is quite insightful and consistent with West's humane outlook. The lie is given to those widely disseminated black conservatives who mouth conservative platitudes yet make no inroads into black popular thinking. On a more panoramic level, West juxtaposes liberal platitudes about race and remedies with their conservative counterparts, arguing that both are seriously deficient. Seemingly what he aims at here is a kind of sublative synthesis of the two schools. It's not clear however what sort of politics is projected by the synthesis. In fact, after a number of West's socially informed writings, I'm still not very sure of his political prescriptions. There is something maddening about a continuing buildup without a specific pay-off. Nevertheless, this remains an important book from an important thinker.
Rating: 2
Summary: highlights problems but doesn't give solution
Comment: Having read "Soul's of Black Folk" by du bois and looking for a more current analysis of how we have progressed from 1903 to the present, i picked up race matters. Cornell West does a great job presenting the current state of black people, especially in discussing nihilism and how it threatens to destroy our communities and his discussion of black homophobia was long overdue. Well written, well thought out, however in attempting to provide solutions to these issues he does a disservice to the book, and to the reader. Ambiguous proposals like 'politics of conversion (love and care) as a solution to "right-wing cutbacks for poor people struggling for decent housing, child care, health care and education" seems a little bit like blind optimism to me, or a not-very-well-thought out last minute ditch at finding a solution. To talk about the crisis of black leadership without addressing the increasing alienation between the black bourgeoisie and blacks in the ghetto is doing disservice to a major problem that confronts 'race matters today. (the current black middle class, while in a position to prevent the rightwing cutbacks West talks about, increasingly remains silent). I would have given the book 4 stars if West had remained faithful in highlighting the problems facing african americans today, without attempting to offer patronizing (read half-assed) solutions especially becuase i believe he has brought to the table issues that we need to start addressing and maybe collectively, find solutions to.
Rating: 3
Summary: Keep a dictionary handy!
Comment: When you read this book, make sure that your mind is totally void of all thoughts, so that you can fully comprehend exactly what Dr. West is pointing out! Besides needing a dictionary to read it, everything in the book is true, well written and to the point. I especially love the quote from Malcolm X about race relations in America...
"You don't stick a knife in a man's back nine inches and then pull it out six inches and say you're making progress."
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Title: The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois ISBN: 0486280411 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 20 May, 1994 List Price(USD): $2.00 |
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Title: The Cornel West Reader by Cornel West ISBN: 0465091105 Publisher: BasicCivitas Books Pub. Date: August, 2000 List Price(USD): $20.95 |
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Title: Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson ISBN: 086543171X Publisher: Africa World Press Pub. Date: January, 1990 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: Race Rules : Navigating the Color Line by Michael Dyson ISBN: 0679781560 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 02 September, 1997 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: The Future of the Race by Cornel West, Jr. Henry Louis Gates ISBN: 0679763783 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 14 January, 1997 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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