Race Matters, 25th Anniversary

By: Cornel West

Narrated by: Cornel West, JD Jackson

The 25th-anniversary edition of the groundbreaking classic, with a new introduction

First published in 1993, on the one-year anniversary of the Los Angeles riots, Race Matters became a national best seller that has gone on to sell more than half a million copies. This classic treatise on race contains Dr. West's most incisive essays on the issues relevant to black Americans, including the crisis in leadership in the Black community, Black conservatism, Black-Jewish relations, myths about Black sexuality, and the legacy of Malcolm X. The insights Dr. West brings to these complex problems remain relevant, provocative, creative, and compassionate.

In a new introduction for the 25th-anniversary edition, Dr. West argues that we are in the midst of a spiritual blackout characterized by imperial decline, racial animosity, and unchecked brutality and terror as seen in Baltimore, Ferguson, and Charlottesville. Calling for a moral and spiritual awakening, Dr. West finds hope in the collective and visionary resistance exemplified by the Movement for Black Lives, Standing Rock, and the Black freedom tradition.

Now more than ever, Race Matters is an essential book for all Americans, helping us to build a genuine multiracial democracy in the new millennium.

©1993, 2017 Cornel West (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"As moving as any of the sermons of the Rev. Martin Luther King, as profound as W. E. B. Du Bois's The Souls of Black Folk, as exhilarating in their offering of liberation as James Baldwin's early essays." (David Nicholson, Washington Post Book World)

"Cornel West is one of the most authentic, brilliant, prophetic, and healing voices in America today. We ignore his truth in Race Matters at our personal and national peril." (Marian Wright Edelman)

"A compelling blend of philosophy, sociology and political commentary.... It directly takes on some of the most volatile issues facing American society today.... One can only applaud the ferocious moral vision and astute intellect on display in these pages." (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

my eyes & mind have been opened

what a great book! I should have read this sooner. everyone should get this book and just sit back relax as your vocabulary expanse happens and you will see the true colors of life.

Thoughtful and Insightful

Dr. West makes great effort to analyze and critique all areas of the political spectrum despite his liberal views. I appreciated his analysis of issues of race. Although I did not agree with all his views, he caused me to look at my understanding of race from a new angle.

Essential reading! Now just as a 25 years ago.

Dr. West's critique and analysis was then and is now essential reading to anyone genuinely trying to comprehend not just race relations but a comprehensive understanding of social dynamics in the United States.

This book explained the motivations at work that effectively Predicted the disastrous Clinton, Obama and now Trump eras from the perspective of race, gender, and economic justice.

It's impressive how well a text written a quarter century ago, not only holds up to the test of time, but holds so much desperately needed clarity for these times.

Why do you require a headline. Damn.

Excellent, but why are you forcing me to write another fourteen words. Damn. One word id enough. Why am still typing just to leave a damn review. Always doing the damn most.

Unsettling and thoughtful.

Ever since I discovered Cornel West's lectures on DuBois and his general philosophy, I looked forward to reading one of his books.

Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and the general analysis. I wish he would have gone more in depth as to what the thinks are pragmatic solutions. A lot of the solutions are presented in very abstract and high-level terms but I'm not too sure that that moves the needle towards the society we yearn to live in.

Will listen to again

Definitely great book by Dr.West. Very informative and interesting. At times audio book isn’t the greatest quality but still a great book

Stefan important look at race and race relations in America

I would recommend this to every American citizen. Thoughtful, insightful, and eye opening. Dr. Cornel West could be the president to unite the country.

Timely Book

Loved the book. It’s my first time reading Cornell West and he is definitely a prolific writer.

Extremely Intelligent

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Some concepts were a little over my head, but overall this was brilliantly written and read.

Knowledge is King

This book helps answer questions as to how we move forward together. working together. Great book