A couple on you know we meet with global news makers and talk about the stories that matter which is a. Race has always caused a shadow over us politics even before donald trump emerged on the scene but it an era in which White Nationalists are both marching in the streets and working in the white house is this a unique moment in u. S. History in this up from special one of americas leading public intellectuals the renowned academic and activist dr cornell west. Cornell west thank you for joining me on up front since donald trump became president in 2016 races a racist attacks racist rhetoric has gotten worse in the United States but im just wondering from your perspective how unique a moment is this this trumpy and moment in terms of modern American History when it comes to racism. Well i think its certainly distinctive because it is the escalation of White Supremacy against blacks Indigenous Peoples mexicans tied to the rule of big money the rule of big military so what it does when
Professor, what is the structure of your newest book breathe. Fear, flight and fortune. It is a letter, a series of letters to my son but also a letter to the o larger world, bh about the reality of anxiety, the worry that comes along with being a parent of lack children in particular black boys at this moment in the United States. But also filled with my desire for them to lead a life of beauty and joy in excellence and self regard. Much of which i think has lessons for an extraordinary tradition we have. Where you come up with the idea to write your sent a lett letter. I actually have written him letters privately for years but my editor at the beacon press said is this something need be interested in doing because i talk about my children all the time. I write post about them on social media, initially, what we both had in mind was something that was a bit more lighthearted but then when i started to reflect on what it would mean to try to tell a story to them about my expectation a
Work with you in the congress, eager to chat about your book, the case against socialism but maybe first just reflect about the role you have within the congress, within our party as an independent voice and someone whos willing to strike out on issues that may be of the republicans are not willing to strike out on tragic sometimes i think im a lonely voice. You know it is in the house, if you believe we should spend less or have a limited Constitutional Government really controversial things like that, limited Constitutional Government, unfortunately we never get any of the other side but the wind is a lot on our side i could be better at it and and i guess ts one of my frustrations but i try very hard to have the same opinion was its republican president or democrat president , that the constitution with specific, spending power was ours. Things like that we should keep our hands on, power to declare war is ours. We too easily give that up and one of interesting things that i found c
Its an epistolary work. Its a letter, a series of letters to my sons of course its also a letter to the larger world. Both about the reality of the terror and anxiety and worry that comes along with being a parent of black children and particularly black boys in the United States at this moment but its also filled with my desire for them to lead a life of beauty and joy. And excellence and self regard. Much of which i think one defined the lessons for an extraordinary definition we have to draw from. Where did you come up with the idea to write your sons a letter . Actually have written them letters privately for years. But my editor gayatri at beacon press said is this something youd be interested in doing i think a large part because i talk about my children all the time direct post about them in social media. Initially what we both had in mind was something that was probably a bit more lighthearted. When i started to reflect on what it would mean to try to tell a story about both my
There are three sections, fear, fly, and fortune. Its an epistolary work. Its a series of letters to my sons but of course its also a letter to the larger world. Both about the reality of the terror and anxiety and worry of being a parent to black children come in particularly black boys at this moment. Its also filled with my desire for them to lead a life of beauty and joy. And excellence. And self regard. Much of which i think one finds the lessons for an extraordinary tradition we have to draw from. Where did you come up with the idea to write your sons a letter . I actually have written them letters privately for years but my editor at beacon press, set is this something youd be interested in doing. Initially i think what we both had in mind was something that was probably aba story for them and the world. It became something more sober. I reached into the archives that i had in my mind of the works that for me did that and try to have a conversation both with the past and the pre