Cornel West returning to Western Pa. for Penn State speaker series

Princeton University professor emeritus and celebrated liberal author Dr. Cornel West will return to Western Pennsylvania on Oct. 25, a week after giving the Threshold Lecture at Saint Vincent College.

West, a noted philosopher, political activist and social critic, will speak at the Penn State Greater Allegheny campus in McKeesport as part of its annual Crossing Bridges Summit speaker series.

West’s presentation, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. in the Wunderley Gymnasium, 4000 University Drive, McKeesport. Tickets are required and can be reserved at www.tinyurl.com/CROSSINGBRIDGESWEST.

In addition to Princeton, West has taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale University, Harvard University and the University of Paris; has written 20 books; and has edited 13 others. His most recent book, “Black Prophetic Fire,” offers an “unflinching look at 19th- and 20th-century African-American leaders and their visionary legacies,” according to Penn State.

A self-described “radical Democrat,” West is a frequent guest on CNN, C-SPAN and Democracy Now. He made his film debut in the “The Matrix” and appeared in the sequels “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions.”

West will appear onstage with Johnathan White, lecturer of history, for a “fireside chat” on topics such as equity, race, social justice and coalition building.