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)

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.

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.

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.

Everyone counts as it relates to “Race Matters”

I found it very informative, the removal of halos from many in history as it relates to their impact and contributions on “Race Matters.”

Knowledge is King

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

A MUST Read!!!

This was a great book. IT’s though provoking while challenging the ideological views of some of our great black leaders. The vocabulary in the book made me want to read the dictionary, utterly amazing. Dr. West is so blunt and this directness is so necessary in our black leadership today!

A Man. Not an Ism

Although grisly sound quality inferior to You Tube recordings, the prophetic voice of Dr West . Out of Greek philosophy, DuBois, Hammer, and jazz,, West makes you see racism everywhere around you , west also describes how to fix it and why hope is eternal.

Extremely Intelligent

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