Cornel West

Cornel Ronald West (born June 2, 1953) is an American philosopher, political activist, social critic, actor, and public intellectual. He is known for his focus on the roles of race, gender, and class struggle in American society. West draws intellectual contributions from multiple traditions, including Christianity, the black church, democratic socialism, left-wing populism, neopragmatism, and transcendentalism. He has authored influential books such as Race Matters (1993) and Democracy Matters (2004). West has held professorships and fellowships at prestigious institutions including Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, and the University of Paris. He is a frequent commentator on politics and social issues in various media outlets.