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Quote by Cornel West

“No community dictates to any individual how to live their lives. You can criticize and you can push but people freely choose.”

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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“We can't have a freedom struggle without free choice.”

Choices Struggle Free Choice

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“I would say you have to fight in the life of the mind as well as fight in the streets, as well as fight in the courts, as well as fight in congress and the White House. Every site is a sight of contestation.”

Mind Wells Fighting House White Streets Sight Court Congress White House Site

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“There are various forms of weaponry, intellectual weaponry, spiritual weaponry, political weaponry, economic weaponry. Because we are on the battlefield, and there are bullets flying, some symbolic, some literal and the life of the mind is a crucial place where the battle goes on.”

Mind Spiritual Form Political Economic Goes On Battle Intellectual Various Flying Crucial Bullets Symbolic Battlefields Literal Weaponry

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“I think we must never, ever demonize one another. That's true not just black people to black people; that's human being to human being.”

People Thinking Humans Black Human Beings Black People

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“We must never so thoroughly disrespect someone that they are beyond the pale and, therefore, have no possibility of being changed.”

Possibility Changed Pale Disrespect

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“It's so easy to begin to demonize someone you think is so far removed and as the demonization begins to expand, it ends up being everybody but your friends. After a while everybody else but you. That is a slippery slope that is so easy to slide down, and that's what is dangerous.”

Thinking Ends Easy Dangerous Down And Slides Slippery Slopes Slippery Slope

Author:Cornel West

“There ought to be a robust, uninhibited conversation in black America with different black ideological perspectives.”

Different America Black Perspective Ought Conversation Ideological Robust Black America

Author:Cornel West

“Success is such a relative thing for me. I'm fundamentally a Christian which means that ultimately all of the penultimate titles and things you just had to wear with a loose garment. Really.”

Mean Christian Titles Relative Garments

Author:Cornel West

“If you can't have a good time and smile and relate to people across race and class, then the success that you have ultimately is just sounding brass and tinkling symbol.”

People Ifs Race Class Symbols Relate Good Times Having A Good Time Brass

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“Life is such a mysterious thing that you are up one day; you are down the next day. A lot of the homeless brothers and sisters who were a success ten years ago, they are now on the street. Maybe ten years later they will be a success, but the crucial question is what is the quality of their life.”

Years Life Is Next Quality Streets Brother One Day Ten Years Ago Mysterious Crucial Homeless Next Day Brothers And Sisters Mysterious Things

Author:Cornel West