Interview with Cornel West by Henry Louis Gates Jr. (PBS Frontline, The Two Nations of Black America, 1997)

Cornel West · c. 1997

Cornel West did not write this page.

Every claim below was made in this piece, quoted word for word and numbered in the order the piece makes them, so you can read it there rather than take our word for it. The sentence above each quote is our reading of the claim, not their wording. Each quote was checked against a stored copy of the page at build time; where the two differ, the quote is the fact.

Our reading
The frightening thing now is the erosion of systems of caring and nurturing

Their wordswhat is frightening about 1997 is the erosion of the systems of caring and nurturing in America at large
Our reading
Black America had a much deeper sense of community in 1967 than in 1997

Their wordsWe had a much deeper sense of community in '67 than we do in '97.
Our reading
Personal responsibility and social accountability must always be talked about together

Their wordsSo there is always personal responsibility. At the same time, there should always be social accountability. We shouldn't talk about one without the other.
Our reading
There is a profound crisis of black leadership

Their wordsI think we have a profound crisis of black leadership now in our communities.
Our reading
When black America is on the move, America is on the move

Their wordsWhen black America is on the move, America is on the move.

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