Preface - Chapter 4 "Race Matters"

5 Sentence Summary
In Race Matters, Cornel West describes the current state of racial tension throughout America in regards to the past movements by leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X. He goes on to describe the different views of poor blacks along with different types of behaviorists and intellectuals among the black American population. West also argues his opinions on different topics such as the blame of black Americans that come from bad circumstances and how this does not excuse a person’s behavior. For the most part, Cornel West is arguing that there is a way to fix all of these racial problems that we are facing and it starts when people decide to get over their fears of talking so bluntly about these issues.
4 Key Passages
"This turning is done through one's own affirmation of one's worth-an affirmation fueled by the concern of others. A love ethics must be at the center of a politics of conversion." (page 29)
“Where there is no vision, the people perish; where there is no framework of moral reasoning, the people close ranks in a war of all against all.” (pg 48)
“But why is this shattering of black civil society occurring? What has led to the weakening of black cultural institutions in asphalt jungles? Corporate market institutions have contributed greatly to their collapse.” (pg. 25)
"First, blackness has no meaning outside of a system of race-conscious people and practices...In short, blackness is a political and ethical construct." (page 39)
3 Key Terms
Nihilism: the livid experience of coping with a life of horrifying meaninglessness, hopelessness, and (most important) lovelessness
Demystifying- to rid of mystery or obscurity; clarify
Afrocentrism: Centered or focused on Africa or African peoples, especially in relation to historical or cultural influence
2 Connections
At one part in this section, West talks about the nihilistic threat as being a cause of the criminal activity involving African Americans today and claims that people are responsible for their own actions but also blames part of it on the American culture. I agree with him on his idea that people are responsible for their own actions but not so much on the part of blaming the American culture. The culture today is how it is because of the individual choices, right or wrong, that people make.
A main focus within the first few chapters of this book, and I’m sure a lot of the chapters to follow, is the importance of powerful African American leaders. It’s amazing to me how much we have progressed as a country now having Barak Obama as our president. Although, as the title states “race matters”, it is apparent that race is still a big part in our society today. However, I do feel as if we are making some progress.
1 question
What will it take to get black and white politicians together to talk about all these underlying issues that Cornel is convinced can solve so many of our problems?