 "Photo: Jovelle Abbey Tamayo / Photography Editor")
 "Photo: Jovelle Abbey Tamayo / Photography Editor")
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the University’s Africana studies department, best-selling author, philosopher and Princeton University Professor Cornel West spoke Wednesday evening in the Multipurpose Room of the Rutgers Student Center in the College Avenue campus.
University President Richard L. McCormick, Board of Governors Chairman M. William Howard, Jr. and Professor Howard McGary expressed words of welcome and admiration for West prior to the event, which was sponsored by the Africana studies department and hosted by the University’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
But audience members in the room, along with the 400 who watched on a screen outside, seemed more interested in his talk entitled “Race and Democracy in the Age of Obama.”
West’s jokes prompted audience members’ laughter, and at one point, he even pulled out a comb and asked if his afro looked alright. But serious thoughts about black history and government in America — past and present — made up a majority of his speech.
“[We need] massive voice-lifting, organizing, mobilizing … to protect [President Barack Obama] against so many of our conservative brothers and sisters engaging in attacks and assaults and misrepresentations and, sometimes, outright lies,” the bespectacled Princeton alumnus said. “He needs to be protected. He needs to be respected. … I love the brother.”
West campaigned for then-candidate Obama at more than 60 events during the election season, and said he would do so again if given the chance.
But nevertheless, he expressed criticism of the president’s administration and said there is still much to be done in many areas, including poverty, health care, childcare and housing.
“When [big corporations] get in trouble, they call for welfare, because [they are] too big to fail,” West said. “But everyday people are too little to rescue?”
The organization of modern politics often gets in the way of advancement, and the American people need politicians who care about taking stands, not just winning elections, West said.
“[People suffer from] moral constipation,” he said. “You know what’s good and right, but you just can’t get it out. What’s getting in the way? Greed, status, selfishness. All of us have this challenge.”
Although Obama is an important black figure in America’s history, his election does not signify the end of the race’s struggle, West said.
“They introduce him [saying] he is the fulfillment of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream. … No, that’s not true,” he said. “He’s a fulfillment, not the fulfillment.”
Having the nation’s first black president in office does not suddenly improve life for lower class blacks suffering in America or destroy racial tensions, West said.
“People don’t even like to talk about institutional hatred ...” he said. “And yet we know we need to talk about it, because these realities are still at work.”
Yet West said the ability of society to analyze the state of life in America can yield progress. He urged young people to engage in such thought.
“America is free and democratic to the degree to which people muster the courage to think critically, to bear witness, to love justice and keep it free and democratic,” he said.
Department of Africana studies Chair Gayle Tate said West’s message, during which he emphasized the history of black people in America and young people’s duty to remember that history, highlighted the broader implications of the black freedom struggle.
“That struggle — while it starts with black people — is worldwide and it impacts and influences people from around the world … ” she said. “[If you look at] those issues which have always challenged black Americans and you do something about them, in that way, you influence a larger struggle of all people who want to be free.”
West’s call for young people to be involved in the workings of society was an important one, Tate said.
“That new generation has to come into the struggle and raise its voices,” she said. “That voice may be very, very different from it was in my time — and certainly in his time — but it is still a voice that must be raised and we must still fight for change.”
Charney Robinson, president of the University’s chapter of the NAACP, was inspired by West’s words.
“[West is a] phenomenal individual,” said Robinson, a School of Arts and Sciences senior. “He’s just prolific, and he’s so down-to-earth. … Walking out of here, I want to change the world.”
The University chapter of the NAACP, which is the largest in the state, invited the organization’s national President Benjamin Todd Jealous to the University last semester, which led to their collaboration with the Africana studies department for Wednesday’s event, Robinson said.
Jessica Moise, vice president of the NAACP, also enjoyed hearing West speak.
“The reason why I can relate to him so much is because he can talk to the youth,” said Moise, a Livingston College senior. “We understand where he’s coming from. He doesn’t just try to speak to people of his generation.”
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