Cornel West, Princeton's Class of 1943 University Professor in the Center for African American Studies, will discuss his new memoir, "Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud," at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in McCosh 10.
The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required to attend. A limited number of tickets currently are available for Princeton University ID holders and will be available for the general public starting Tuesday, Oct. 13. The event also will be simulcast in McCosh 50. No tickets are required for the simulcast site.
West is a renowned public intellectual who is frequently quoted speaking on the intersection of American society, politics, race and class. The event celebrating the book's release will feature selected passages read by Princeton Professor of African American Studies Imani Perry and reflections on the memoir by West.
In his memoir, West writes about his life's great passions: the life of the mind and the prophetic Christian tradition that has shaped his deepest personal values of unconditional love and a commitment to service. He also shares lessons learned in the academy through his professorships at Union Theological Seminary, Yale Divinity School, Princeton and Harvard University. The book also reflects on the well-publicized clash between West and former Harvard President Lawrence Summers and West's decision to return to teach at Princeton.
A bestselling author, West is known for his groundbreaking book on race and America, "Race Matters" (1993), its sequel, "Democracy Matters" (2004) and "Hope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom" (2008). He is the recipient of the American Book Award and holds more than 20 honorary degrees.
Tickets for the reading are available from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at the ticket office in the Frist Campus Center or by phone at (609) 258-9220. The general public may pick up a maximum of two tickets per person, and members of the University community are limited to two tickets per University ID.
The event is sponsored by the Center for African American Studies. Media who would like to attend the event should RSVP to Jennifer Loessy at the Center for African American Studies no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, by e-mailing jloessy@princeton.edu or calling (609) 258-3216.