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Can we end indifference? Cornel West: Posted on 09-22-2010

DAVID JOHNSON
LA, CA
Yeah, but the thing about indifference is that it's always a choice that we make, you see. So that if you choose to have an iciness of soul and a hardening of heart and a coarsening of conscience, that leads towards indifference. That's why at the end of Dante's Inferno it's the iciness of Satan. You remember? The coldness. That's a choice. No matter what structures or dominations are in place, we can still choose to care, choose to care -- Sorge, that fundamental category that the Germans talked about, the care. And the bluesman and the blueswoman don't believe in optimism or pessimism, you see. I been down so long that down don't worry me no more; that's why I keep keeping on. The bluesman and the blueswoman are never indifferent. They're full of passion, they're full of caring about something. It could be last night, tomorrow night. It could be the society. Whatever.

You've got to sustain some kind of passion, and therefore the great bluesmen and women from Tony Morrison to white ones like Tennessee Williams to Bruce Springsteen on the vanilla side of town, along with Bob Dylan, or on the chocolate side of town, you know, it could be Leroy Carr or Curtis Mayfield or Aretha Franklin -- they are prisoners of hope. They're neither optimists nor pessimists; they are prisoners of hope because they care. As long as you care, and there's one little precious child out there with sparkling eyes, you've got to do something. And if you don't, the rocks are going to cry out. That's why Coltrane kept blowing his horn, my brother, because if he didn't blow his horn the rocks were going to cry out. That genius cared.


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JenFad from Central Jersey, NJ replied on 09-23-2010 09:50PM [Reply]

I don't get Cornel West, but I do understand passion and compassion.

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powllRobert from edina, MN replied on 09-26-2010 01:43PM [Reply]

cornelWest is just a guy who got a job because of malcolm and wants others - his students, university, book distributors to think he is a 'black' one you can invite to dinner and drinks.

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DAVID JOHNSON from LA, CA replied on 09-26-2010 02:40PM [Reply]

robert you cant tie c/west shoes laces
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Cynthia Merrill Artis from Tallahassee, FL replied on 09-26-2010 06:09PM [Reply]

Brother Cornel West... is one smart educated ...... his name alone is a triple threat!!

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samtop33 Lagos replied on 06-02-2011 11:45PM [Reply]
God is neither white nor black,God is spirit,the worshipers must worship in spirit and truth
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Gabby Lincoln replied on 09-02-2011 03:11PM [Reply]

Tom,Tavis, and Cornel; three wisemen or three stooges????????????????? Or a combination of both ??????????0

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Pyerse Dandridge from Sacramento, CA replied on 09-30-2012 03:53PM [Reply]

I respect West, However I'd like to see Black leaders DO instead of telling me what's wrong. I already know whats wrong, I even got a list of people to blame. Tell me how do I fix whats wrong and how do I DO IT.
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MrFlorida from Tampa, FL replied on 08-08-2015 02:13PM [Reply]
http://www.gofundme.com/2ndchancegrind
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