Cornel West (left) and Abul Pitre sit on stage in the McKenna Theatre at SF State. West led a panel discussion with SF State faculty about liberation and social justice on Sept. 29, 2022. (Neal Wong / Golden Gate Xpress) (Neal Wong)
Cornel West (left) and Abul Pitre sit on stage in the McKenna Theatre at SF State. West led a panel discussion with SF State faculty about liberation and social justice on Sept. 29, 2022. (Neal Wong / Golden Gate Xpress)

Neal Wong

Acclaimed writer and activist Cornel West leads a discussion on liberation and social justice at SF State

Over 100 students and faculty attended famed public intellectual and activist Cornel West’s panel at McKenna Theater.

Sep 30, 2022

Minutes before acclaimed writer and activist Cornel West was due to take the stage at McKenna Theatre, the crowd buzzed with excited whispers about the upcoming panel discussion.

Over 100 students and faculty members attended the event; West made a point to personally thank nearly every attendee who showed up to his first speech at SF State.

SF State student Michaela Agabashian says she has been looking forward to seeing West speak for a long time. 

“I’m really excited, I grew up hearing Cornel West on the news with my parents and I think he’s a great civil rights activist,” Agabashian said. “I really look up to him, and his hopefulness and optimism in these difficult times is inspiring.”

West is currently the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary, which is the chair named in honor of the renowned German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 

West has written 20 books and has edited 13, such as “Race Matters and Democracy Matters.” His most recent book, “Black Prophetic Fire,” centered around 19th and 20th century African American leaders and their legacies.

The show opened with a virtual welcome from SF State President Lynn Mahoney, which was followed by the introduction of the moderator of the show, Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at SF State Jamillah Moore.

As the lights dimmed, the crowd applauded and panel guests were introduced. The first was SF State professor and Chair of the Department of Africana Studies, Abul Pitre and the second was SF State Provost Amy Sueyoshi.

The crowd rose to its feet and cheered as West took the stage. He held his hands over his heart and smiled at the warm reception.

“I am deeply blessed to be here, very deeply blessed,” West said. “SF State is a consecrated space! This is no ordinary institution… blood, sweat and tears have been shed here for our cause.”

The panel tackled complex subjects such as flawed democracy, the construct of general education, the nationwide graduation crisis, liberation and the importance of education.

“We have to have the courage to raise our voices,” West said. “We cannot keep being well adjusted to injustice.”

The discussion concluded with a Q&A session, where they addressed questions about homophobia, prejudice, marginalized leadership and more.

Once the event ended, students and attendees lined up through the hall and onto the sidewalk for a chance to meet West.

SF State student Andres Hortensi was excited to meet West after reading his works for a decade.

“It’s all really inspiring, and I’ve known of him for the past 10 years,” Hortensi said. “It was really inspiring and motivating to hear his words and to challenge ourselves and our ideas of justice, liberation, and how we contribute to it.”

According to SF State student Sydney Jackson, she had wanted to meet her idol West for a long time.

“He’s a household name and my parents read his books growing up,” Jackson said. “To meet him was mind-blowing for me, and he’s doing exactly what I want to do, and he’s a representation of who I want to be.”

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About the Contributors
Photo of David Blakeley
David Blakeley, Staff Reporter
David Blakeley (he/him) is a reporter for Golden Gate Xpress. He is majoring in journalism and minoring in labor studies. He was born in Orange County, California and has lived in San Francisco since 2013. David enjoys crime novels, drawing, skateboarding and screenwriting.
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Neal Wong, Editor-at-Large
Neal Wong (he/him) is the editor-at-large for Golden Gate Xpress. Having recently graduated in the spring with a degree in journalism and a minor in education, he is staying to support the transition into the fall semester. He is also a proud San Franciscan who was born and raised in the city and attended George Washington High School. He joined the staff in 2023 and has since held key roles including managing editor and online editor. His work has also been published in outlets such as Richmondside, the San Francisco Public Press and Mission Local. Neal has also created and taught courses in SFSU's Experimental College. His hobbies include traveling, cooking and reading the news. You can contact him at [email protected].

Neal Wong (él) es el editor itinerante de Golden Gate Xpress. Tras haberse graduado recientemente en primavera con una licenciatura en periodismo y una especialización en educación, se queda para apoyar la transición al semestre de otoño. También es un orgulloso sanfrancisqueño, nacido y criado en la ciudad, y asistió a George Washington High School. Se unió al equipo en 2023 y desde entonces ha ocupado cargos clave, incluyendo editor general y editor digital. Su trabajo también ha sido publicado en medios como Richmondside, San Francisco Public Press y Mission Local. Neal también ha creado y enseñado cursos en el Experimental College de SFSU. Sus pasatiempos incluyen viajar, cocinar y leer las noticias. Puedes contactarlo en [email protected].

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