Cornel West at CSU-S on Dec.1

Themes in the speech by DSA Chair Cornel West. Dec.1, 2005.

DSA Honorary chair Cornel West spoke at CSU-Sacramento tonight to a crowd of over 3000. It was an excellent speech.
Major themes were the predominance of white supremacy and the centrality of white supremacy in the foundations of this nation. And, how white supremacy keeps us from developing into a true democracy.
After paying tribute to Rosa Parks, Cornel asked, “Do we have the courage to think critically about our society?”
He urged students and the audience to cultivate their own best self. “What kind of human being do you want to be?”
He quoted James Baldwin as saying that, ‘innocence itself is a crime.” That is persons who claim to not see racism and white supremacy are themselves perpetuating an unjust society and weakening our struggle toward democracy.
He spoke of facing painful truths and realities in our society such as the realities of U.S. imperialism. Cornel encouraged the audience to establish balance in their lives and their priorities and to keep justice and democracy alive, not to only pursue individual riches.
And he spoke of the need to create networks of activists and justice oriented people.
Cornel referred to the DSA table and recommended it and DSA.
We were the only table in the room except for a commercial table
selling his C.D's.
We gave away all the DSA literature we had. And, picked up 5 sign ups.
Cornel West. Author of Race Matters ( 1993) and Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism (2004) and Honorary Chair of Democratic Socialists of America. Professor at Princeton. University Union. 7:30 P.M.
Duane Campbell
Sacramento