Civil rights activist Cornel West calls for youth involvement
It didn’t matter what civil rights activist Cornel West mentioned. The audience constantly cheered in agreement and didn’t stop for almost two hours.
West visits universities around the nation to speak to students about activism. Alpha Phi Alpha and the Student African American Society sponsored West’s talk in Goldstein Auditorium.
The main question he posed to the audience, and later answered, was: ‘What is the new youth movement in a time when it seems there’s nothing to fight for, and what impact will we make on our society?’
Walking onstage at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, West addressed the audience with a loud, booming voice that could be heard from the top balcony. He then described the new youth movement for economic and social equality, which he called an awakening among youths in more than 100 cities in several countries.
He told students and adults what they need to do right now to participate and move forward in the movement. The movement encourages youths to focus on the important issues of today, like poverty and oppression. West argued that students need to be ready to fight for these issues.
‘People need to be willing to go out of their comfort zone and be willing to take risks,’ he said.
But he believes students are ready and eager to do this as long as they break away from narcissism. He said people today pay too much attention to things that don’t matter. After this remark, audience members nodded enthusiastically and clapped loudly in agreement.
West also discussed the importance of having morals and leaving a positive mark in the world.
‘The first challenge of the youth movement is to find your voice,’ he said.
The crowd erupted into cheers when he asked, ‘Who are you gonna be between your momma’s womb and your tomb? What will people say when you are in your coffin?’
He stated how the movement encompasses every race, region of the world and sexual orientation. Too many people worry about fitting in, but young people are starting to have their distinct voices heard. At the end of his lecture, West acknowledged that the youth movement is a step-by-step process.
‘Where it will go, it’s hard to say,’ West said.
Many believe it is going to go by the wayside, but in the near future, the United States is going to see a flourishing and thriving youth culture, he said.
West highlighted the importance of living fulfilling and moral lives. He believes youths are looking for something real, but they have to be willing to speak up and stand up for what they believe in.
‘We cannot be concerned about what others think,’ he said. ‘But we must be concerned about the truth.’
Published on March 6, 2012 at 12:00 pm
