Cornel West recalls meeting, working with, challenging, and critiquing Barack Obama. West discusses Obama’s candidacy, the symbolic importance of becoming the first black president and the importance of keeping Martin Luther King Jr.s Legacy alive.

Cornel West is a prominent philosopher, activist, author, and professor, currently serving as the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary. Dr. West first began his teaching career at Union Theological Seminary in 1976, when he was just 23 years old, and has since taught at Yale, Princeton, -- where he received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy, and where he still holds the title of Professor Emeritus -- Harvard, -- his alma mater -- and the University of Paris. He has authored 20 books, best known for his classics Race Matters (1993) and Democracy Matters (2004), has produced three spoken word albums, one of which he collaborated with Prince and other notables, and has appeared in over 25 documentaries and films. Additionally, he is a frequent commentator on political and social issues across several media outlets. A provocative democratic intellectual, Dr. West initially supported Barack Obama in his 2008 presidential campaign, but soon after, became one of President Obama’s fiercest critics from the left; throughout President Obama’s two terms, Dr. West cited vehement opposition on everything from his handling of the financial crisis to his handling of his Black identity and racial issues.

From the 2021 three-part HBO documentary series Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union. The personal and political journey of President Barack Obama is explored that weaves together conversations with colleagues, friends, and critics, alongside his own speeches and interviews.

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Cornel West, Professor and Activist
Interviewed By: Peter Kunhardt
Interview Date: November 15, 2018

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