Skip to content

Agendas Quote by Cornel West

“All talks about legacies of white supremacy must be tied to empowering the lives of poor and working people as a whole. The black agenda - from Frederick Douglas to A. Philip Randolph, Martin Luther King Jr, Fannie Lou Hammer to Ella Baker - has always been tied to race talk inseparable from…” quote by Cornel West
Download Open image
“All talks about legacies of white supremacy must be tied to empowering the lives of poor and working people as a whole. The black agenda - from Frederick Douglas to A. Philip Randolph, Martin Luther King Jr, Fannie Lou Hammer to Ella Baker - has always been tied to race talk inseparable from expanding possibilities of democracy, expanding empowerment of everyday people.”

Cornel West

About This Quote

Source Speech: Lecture at Harvard University, 2020

White supremacy's legacy must be linked to empowering poor and working people, as historic Black leaders tied race to broader democratic empowerment.

In simple terms: Link racism to broader empowerment.

Key Takeaway

Empower all people.

Themes

justice democracy race economics

Mood

urgent inspirational

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

  • policy reform
  • community organizing
  • education equity
  • grassroots activism

Key Concepts

political theory social movements

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we address both race and class in activism?
  • What policies best empower marginalized communities?
A Different Perspective

Focusing solely on race may overlook class intersections.

2.7 out of 5 (3 ratings)

More by Cornel West

Explore all 400 Cornel West quotes

More Agendas quotes

Browse all 985 Agendas quotes