Oh, the humanity: West wows the Valley

By Jon Moffett

The Princeton scholar gave the crowd a needed ‘shot in the arm,’ one listener said.

YOUNGSTOWN — When Dr. Cornel West looks at society, he sees too many copies and not enough originals.

West, a professor of religion and African-American Studies at Princeton University, has written numerous books, earning him a National Book Award, and has received more than 20 honorary degrees. The charismatic figure spoke Thursday night to a packed Stambaugh Auditorium, which West described as a “magnificent space.”

The floor section and first balcony were filled to capacity with people listening to West’s views on race, equality and, most importantly, humanity.

“When you’re an original, you lift your voice, not your echo,” West said in his speech.

Victor Wan-Tatah, director of Africana Studies at Youngstown State University, introduced West as “an intellectual giant” and “great hero” to the crowd, who gave West a standing ovation before and after his riveting speech.

The speech was the culmination of multiple presentations YSU sponsored in honor of Black History Month.

West instructed those in the audience to view all people, regardless of race or ethnicity, as individuals and not to lump them into categories. He added that society teaches its young people to focus on achieving monetary value, instead of moral value.

“The worst thing you can do for any generation is to tell them to be successful and not tell them to be great,” he said.

Those who focus their lives solely on financial or personal success are like peacocks, West said. Though they are adorned with beautiful things and may look important, all of the self-satisfaction makes it harder for them to fly.

Diana Burkhart, 33, of Seattle, a Spanish professor at YSU, said West was a dynamic speaker with a great message.

“He just has a style and is so charismatic,” she said. “I really like his language; he’s almost poetic in his way of speaking. There is just something really nice about the way he explains things.”

Burkhart summed up the message of West’s speech as, “Drop the superficial and go for the core.”

West also made his remarks specific to Youngstown, saying the city has fought and continues to battle through tough times.

“My brothers and sisters of all colors in Youngstown, you’ve been through and are still through tough times, but you still have your dignity. ... You’ve been there, done that and you’re still moving.”

Helen Rucker, a Warren councilwoman, said the message was a relief for the entire Mahoning Valley.

“It felt like I had been sick for a while and he comes and gives us a shot in the arm,” Rucker said. “Sometimes we need a voice of someplace else to come in and help us see ourselves and what is going on with the rest of the country and invigorate us.”

West also urged those in the crowd to examine their own lives on the issue of race. He said each person is responsible for his or her own life, and asked: “What kind of person do you choose to be?”

jmoffett@vindy.com