Friday, Feb. 20, 1998

Author captivates Schwab audience

By KHYBER OSER
Collegian Staff Writer

As if delivering a religious sermon, Cornel West entranced his audience last night in Schwab Auditorium.

Standing before a capacity crowd, West gave an emotionally charged lecture on race in America for the University's Distinguished Speaker Series. His expressive face and inquisitive eyes complemented fluttering hand gestures as he eloquently whispered and bellowed his thoughts on what it means to be human.

"He caught my attention," said Shawn Punch (freshman-sociology). "He touched on a lot of issues on race and the struggle for human rights."

A professor of Afro-American studies and religious philosophy at Harvard University, West spoke directly to the audience about morality and love. He continuously posed questions, pausing to allow the audience members to reflect on their answers.

Distingguished Speaker Series continued in the Schawb Auditorium last night with Cornel West, professor of Afro-American Studies and Religious Philosophies at Harvard University. One of the topics he touched on was community-based political action. (Collegian Photo/Laura Chiles - click for full size image)

"Race has been and remains America's most explosive issue," he said, imploring the audience members to ponder what kind of people they should be and what kind of society they should constitute today.

West applied abstract philosophies on race to contemporary situations such as the Los Angeles riots and Tiger Woods' entrance into professional golf. The weight and gravity of race hung over Woods' head at all times, West said, because Americans have an eternal quest to classify people.

Even though West lectured on serious issues, the crowd laughed often and the atmosphere was light. Referring to all women and men as sisters and brothers, West was a living example of the caring and nurturing love that he promoted -- love that he said he observes waning in American society.

"His message transcends race, class, gender, ethnicity and culture," said Sam Richards, lecturer in sociology. "It's about the traumatic and spectacular nature of life itself. We can all relate to that."

West has written many books on racial issues, including the 1994 bestseller Race Matters. In Race Matters, he addressed issues such as the relations between black people and Jewish people, black sexuality and, as he sees it, the visible absence of black leadership.

Throughout the book, West stresses love, hope and community-based action. His recent literary efforts include Restoring Hope: Conversations on the Future of Black America. The book is based on discussions West had with public figures such as Maya Angelou, Wynton Marsalis and Senator Bill Bradley.

"I am a prisoner of hope," he said. "Hope is about struggle against the odds."