Black Woman, Know Your Place: Cornel West Clings To His Privilege

Now i love Melissa Harris-Perry. I really do. And I find West grating, bullish and elitist. But I think you should post some of the actual criticism that West has against her – particularly about her and Sharpton’s neglect of how unemployment numbers have worsened for black people while improving over all. Though i loathe to admit it, he may have a valid point or two. 

I think the two of them (Harris-Perry and West) do not like each other personally and they let that leak into their criticism of each other’s agenda and work – which is really unfortunate since a good chunk of American media is presenting them as THE black voices of this country.

could you provide a link? I’m not aware of this article and would like to read it… Thanks.

I’ll admit that I don’t know a lot about Cornel West but what I do know has led me find him insufferable. I’m so sick and tired of black people – including supposedly educated ones – still measuring one another up based on the mythical blackness scale that exists in their minds only. Obama is the president of the United States, not just black people, but West and his cronies can’t seem to understand that. Are there genuine critiques to be made about the relationship between the Democratic party and people who are struggling (regardless of race)? Absolutely. But to assert that the President isn’t black enough simply because he’s not pushing your limited agenda (or inviting you over for tea and crumpets) is beyond childish and speaks more volumes about West’s character and ego than anything else.

I imagine eatmyshorts is referencing this: 
http://www.thenation.com/blog/160725/cornel-west-v-barack-obama

The difference, in my mind, is that Harris-Perry aggressively analyzed West’s criticisms of the president, pointing out ways that his ire was hypocritical and seemingly based more on the personal than political. On the other hand, West went after Harris-Perry personally, calling her a liar, a fraud, treacherous and challenging her academic credentials in much the same way that women, and women of color in particular, are frequently undermined in academia…and life.

I do agree with the poster above that there is clearly no love lost between the two. I also believe that some of West’s critique of President Obama is valid. But I think the good professor reveals something ugly in his not-black-enough and not-smart-enough attacks on Harris-Perry and the president.

Ms. Harris-Perry wrote a pretty vicious attack on Dr. West in the Nation last year. Considering that why is it not okay for West to respond? This, IMO, is just two academic rivals going at each other in public.

Here is Ms. Harris-Perry’s post about Dr. West; http://www.thenation.com/blog/160725/cornel-west-v-barack-obama

Why was it not OK for Obama to decline attending Smiley’s event?  I’d been wondering if anyone had noticed the once-inspiring and eloquent West going off-rail around the time of the Obama campaign.  It looked like he was suffering from the same rockstar-wannabe anxiety I’ve watched academics go through all my life, what with his sudden interest in top hats and the verbal Amen break.  Now, armed with Harris-Perry’s perspective, I can see what was suddenly ringing so false about West’s vociferous disapproval.  CW has to understand that the difference between a candidate’s abandoning the black community and avoiding his personal company is not porch status on their part but unexamined egotism on his.

I happen to like West’s writing, but someone had to say it.  Yes, we do have to put maximum heat on Obama to honor the policy changes we elected.  But pettiness and self-righteousness never helped anyone’s platform.    

I’m only half-way through Harris-Perry’s book but so far it’s well researched, well written, and completely eye opening. Her book has never struck me as “wild and out of control”. I think her commentary is important and needed. 

Oh, it would rankle like hell. But West claims his criticism isn’t about that or Obama not kissing Tavis’ ring or West not getting tickets to the inauguration. Anyone listening, though, can hear that his anger is at least partly about those things. It is hard to position yourself as savior of the common people while moaning about the grievances of elite academics and talking heads.

It’s Dr. Harris-Perry.

Ironic that West criticizes Herris-Perry for not producing enough academic material when he has been charged of the same thing throughout his career.

I must say that I was shocked by the blatant disrespect Dr. West displayed toward Dr. Harris-Perry.  I had an inkling that he had crossed over from African American intellectual  to narcissist celebrity after seeing him on the Craig Ferguson Show, last year.  But it wasn’t until I read a review of his latest book,”Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud”,  that my suspicions were confirmed.  The article highlighted a quote from Dr. West’s book on his expectations from a women.  Now,I could fully understand why the man has been married and divorced 4 times.  I also think it revealed a man who has mayor issues with women.  Here is the quote:

“The basic problem with my love relationships with women is that my
standards are so high — and they apply equally to both of us. I seek
full-blast mutual intensity, fully fledged mutual acceptance, full-blown
mutual flourishing, and fully felt peace and joy with each other. This
requires a level of physical attraction, personal adoration, and moral
admiration that is hard to find. And it shares a depth of trust and
openness for a genuine soul-sharing with a mutual respect for a
calling
to each other and to others. Does such a woman exist for me? Only God
knows and I eagerly await this divine unfolding. Like Heathcliff and
Catherine’s relationship in Emily Bronte’s remarkable novel Wuthering Heights
or Franz Schubert’s tempestuous piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat (D.960) I
will not let life or death stand in the way of this sublime and funky
love that I crave!”Furthermore, I  was equally disappointing to read Dr. Boyce Watkins take on the Perry-West matter.   Unfortunately, a lot of educated males have decided that the dignity of the male must be protected at all cost.  We saw this same scenario during the Thomas-Hill Hearings.  Hell, it’s being played out in the death of Whitney Houston. So called educated men are quick to defend her deadbeat, abusive ex- husband.   It requires intellectual dishonesty and cowardice, if one knows better.  If one doesn’t, they certainly  have no business being called an intellectual in 2012.

She’s a university professor.  You aren’t going to be a full professor at a four year college or university without being a PhD…were you unaware that she was an academic?