Cornel West to give lecture at Saint Vincent College

Princeton University professor emeritus and celebrated liberal author Dr. Cornel West will give the Threshold Lecture at Saint Vincent College on Oct. 17.

West, a noted philosopher, political activist and social critic, will speak on “The Arts as a Prophetic Witness in Times of Suffering and Despair” at 8 p.m. at the Fred Rogers Center in Unity.

West’s presentation is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and reservations are required. They can be made via phone at 724-805-2177 or online at www.stvincent.edu/threshold.

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 Saint Vincent College.

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 often appears at events with conservative intellectual Robert P. George to address the importance of free speech, civility and academic freedom at American college campuses.