Black Prophetic Fire

Cornel West is a gifted writer. He gets right to the point. Reveals inspirational traditions that restore faith and trust in all humanity.Profiles well known people from the Black community with a keen intellectual insight that will astound you. A " MUST" read for anyone who wants to wake up and take a good look at what is going on and what has been going on around them within the context of this country.

Dr. West’ Prophetic Fire is an eye opener to the systemic plot and plan of the powers that “think” they be to push to silence, buy us to silence, befriend us to silence, thereby stopping the most critical weapon we have to the masses-Our Voice. I recommend this book to every speaker, preacher, leader, person of influence who seeks to keep the fire of the Injustice aflame. A must read for those who seek to be a part and spark of the conversation in the liberation of his people…….Us!!!!!

I was captivated by this book from start to finish. Dr. West has deep insights on ll the figures in the book, and there is an overarching message to how each figure is related to each other in the struggle. Excellent read. Truly enlightening.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. This is simply a conversation/interview that dives into many of the prominent black voices of history to see how each individual not only changed history, but what limitations were there from going further. West does not pull punches either. One might think that here are two African American speakers, talking about famous African Americans, so the conversation is going to be overly waxed poetic, but it isn't that at all. It is a honest look at some of the greatest black writers and speakers of the time. I even picked up one of my new favorite words- "Santaclausification" which West uses to describe MLK Jr.The only reason why I didn't rate it higher is, unless you sit and almost read the book cover to cover in one sitting there are moments of loss. It is a conversation, so some of the later chapters will refer to points in earlier chapters, which if you are reading the book over a week, like I did, will get lost a bit. I found also reading a person's chapter as a whole helped, but some conversations are much longer than others. That was the only drawback. I kept finding myself thinking- I would rather listen to this than read it, but I was glad for the book.

Cornel West reinvigorates the "Black Prophetic Fire," which he defines as those voices who fight for justice for the voiceless and the disgraced. These are powerful figures, including Martin Luther King and Malcolm X , who sacrificed wealth, comfort, and personal safety to articulate a "We-Consciousness" instead of an "I-Consciousness."West wrote this book because many black leaders, including the aforementioned King and Malcolm X, have been co-opted in a consumer society that, coveting wealth, health, and status, has reshaped these figures into "self-made men" and have contributed to the cult of the individual.West argues passionately for a social justice movement to counteract a threatened middle-class, decrepit schools, and the "hyperincarceration" of black men in what is the New Jim Crow.This book is a well written primer that gives voice to the true prophetic tradition in a selfish consumer society. Highly recommended.

Dr. West in this book is amazing! In this book he invigorates the African American heart and spirit and reaches to the core of our being, our culture and what it is to be Black in America and shakes off the cobwebs in a time where the so-called leaders in America take the spotlight from those that want to take a "moment to a movement through sacrifice" as Joe Madison, the Black Eagle would say. He reminds us that through the struggle we have created great people that create music, and things from a spirit only those that live in struggle can create. He relates it to other movements in struggle, and reminds them too that we have a responsibility to aid in that struggle. Certainly one for those who carry a flame to illuminate in a sea of darkness

This book reignited an urging to continue the ‘good fight’ form social justice for all who are opporessed, but especially for those Blacks in America who have been oppressed for centuries. It also helped me to understand and side with West’s sharp and unique criticism of the Obama era. I understand now what Bro. Cornel and Bro. Tavis were saying about Bro. Obama and I find their critique closer to being more legitimate than less. This becomes especially true when one understands what it means to prophetically advocate the cause of the oppressed.

Knowledge

Bought book as a gift for some one.Excellent condition practically new and does not look used at all..Very pleased and do cheap...

very new, excellent!