It's never a question of skin pigmentation. It's never a question of just culture or sexual orientation or civilization. It's what kind of human being you're going to choose to be from your mama's womb to the tomb and what kind of legacy will you leave.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that true identity goes beyond superficial traits and revolves around the choices we make throughout our lives.
Cornel West's quote argues that the essence of a person is not defined by characteristics such as skin color, culture, or sexual orientation. Instead, it emphasizes the moral choices we make and the legacy we create from birth to death, highlighting the importance of personal integrity and responsibility in shaping our identity and impact on the world.
In practice
This quote can inspire a graduation speech about making responsible choices.
King's response to our crisis can be put in one word: revolution. A revolution in our priorities, a reevaluation of our values, a reinvigoration of our public life and a fundamental transformation of our way of thinking and living that promotes a transfer of power from oligarchs and plutocrats to everyday people and ordinary citizens.
You've got to love yourself enough, not only so that others will be able to love you, but that you'll be able to love others.
Profound music leads us beyond language...to the dark roots of our scream and the celestial heights of our silence.
And when I talk about love, I'm talking about something that's great, though, brother. I'm talking about something that will sustain you.
Clever gimmicks of mass distraction yield a cheap soulcraft of addicted and self-medicated narcissists.
I feel as if I have been blessed to undergo a transformation from 'gangster' to 'redeemed sinner with gangster proclivities.'
Private property is one of the best institutions which has ever evolved, to protect us from the bullying of others.
The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing...is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character detests and despises it.
I don't believe there's an atom of meaning in it.
A man may be in as just possession of the truth as of a city, and yet be forced to surrender.
Fame is damaging when people become reliant on it for their sense of self, and their identity, when fame is linked to how you see yourself.
Choice of evils debates always produce extremism - people choose what they hope is the lesser evil, then call it good and demonize the other choice. It will be a challenge for your generation to synthesize - to move beyond Us versus Them, to We.
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