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Quote by Cornel West

“Part of the challenge of the Barack Obama campaign was to try to neutralize that white backlash, and of course, he was masterful in doing that.”

Quote by Cornel West

Author

Cornel West is a renowned American philosopher, political activist, and author. He is known for his profound insights into race, class, and culture, particularly on issues of American society and politics. His writings and speeches often delve into themes of justice, freedom, and democracy. more

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“The white backlash has been at work for a long time. It's been part and parcel of the Republican Party for the last 25 years or so, and it's been highly successful up until Barack Obama was ingeniously able to come up with strategies to deal with it.”

Years Long Has Beens Able Lasts White Deals Party Successful Republican Long Time Strategy Come Up Barack Republican Party Backlash Parcel

Author:Cornel West

“The problem is not just affirmative action, though. The problem is poor people, working people and their children, and affirmative action for the most part doesn't even apply to them.”

People Children Problem Action Poor Poor People Affirmative Action Affirmative

Author:Cornel West

“We're talking about a prison-industrial complex. We're talking about a war on drugs that's generating unprecedented levels of incarcerated folk. We're talking about dilapidated housing. We're talking about joblessness and underemployment.”

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Author:Cornel West

“We've got the wrong vision, the wrong values, the wrong priority, and as the great prophetic figure Marian Edelman Wright puts it, we have been AWOL when it comes to poor people and poor children.”

People Children Has Beens Values Poor Vision Figures Priorities Poor People Prophetic Poor Children

Author:Cornel West

“I just don't want the fear from the right to be used by the [Barack] Obama administration to silence critics. We have to be willing to tell the truth because we're trying to speak about conditions that are being rendered invisible in our prisons and schools in the hood and so forth and so on.”

Want Trying School Used Speak Silence Conditions Willing Truth Is Prison Critics Invisible Administration Barack Telling The Truth Hood

Author:Cornel West

“The right wing can use anything, and we have to make it very clear and I make it very clear that my love for the president in terms of protecting him and respecting him but also correcting, now all three of those are crucial, and if I can do all three, then the right wing can use it whatever they want, and I'm just clear where I stand, over against them but also critical when the president leans toward the strong, rather than the weak.”

Ifs Want I Can Use Three Strong President Term Can Do Clear Weak Wings Critical Crucial Right Wing Correcting

Author:Cornel West

“I was the only black girl at my junior high school. I had an afro, a Jamaican accent, I looked really old.”

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“Why I can't stand this phrase about I don't have any permanent enemies, any permanent friends, only permanent interests. I can't stand that. It's a matter of principles. What kind of integrity, what kind of morality do you have?”

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Author:Cornel West

“This is what it is for Asians to be part of - support affirmative action, even though it may be against their interest, but they feel it's a matter of justice.”

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Author:Cornel West

“If we can't get back to principles and integrity and it's reduced just the interest of calculation and Machiavellian manipulation, we are in deep trouble.”

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Author:Cornel West