Cornell West On Sandy Hook: ‘We Can’t Just Shed Tears For Those On The Vanilla Side Of Town’

Mediaite.com ^ | 5:30 pm, December 27th, 2012 | Noah Rothman

[drewh]

Princeton University Professor Dr. Cornel West appeared on the Tavis Smiley radio show on Thursday where he weighed in with his thoughts on how the media and lawmakers are responding to the tragic massacre of teachers and children in Newtown, Connecticut.

West expressed his frustration over how eagerly the media demanded a conversation about gun laws after Newtown, but seems unmoved by endemic gun violence in America’s cities where the victims are primarily minorities.

“We can’t just shed tears for those on the vanilla side of town,” West said.” They are precious, but they are no less or more precious than our poor brothers and sisters on Indian reservations — who are killing each other — or be they black or brown or what have you.”

“But it’s a good thing that we now have a discussion on gun control. We need one on drone control. Not a peep, not a mumbling word when black folk get shot,” West added.

“But now, Newtown, Connecticut, vanilla side — low and behold we got a major conversation. That’s wonderful. Each life is precious, but it just upsets me when we’re so deferential.”

[Secret Agent Man]

maybe when blacks start getting serious about fixing their own problems and appearing to actually give a damn instead of saying nothing themselves and starting to deal with the problems they won’t take anyone else’s advice regarding, and actually start fixing the problems,

then maybe it’ll be worth it for the rest of us to give a damn too.

[cripplecreek]

Clearly there’s only one option left.

Wall off the cities so us gun loving redneck flyover country hillbillies will stop importing violence into the innocent utopian cities.

Its the only way.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks drewh.

...expressed his frustration over how eagerly the media demanded a conversation about gun laws after Newtown, but seems unmoved by endemic gun violence in America’s cities where the victims are primarily minorities.

[Venturer]

Cornell is no different tha the other 95% who voted for Obama, including such notables as Colon Powell.

They all hate whitey because whitey has white skin.

Those with white guilt can call that BS all they want, but they had better wake up.

[Boogieman]

I actually agree with West this time. The racism of liberals in only calling for gun control when white children die is appalling!

After all, only liberals are calling for gun control, therefore, they are the ones at whom the accusation of racism must be directed. Right, Professor West?

[GraceG]

I always confuse

Colonel West (ie. Allen West)

with

Cornell West (ie. Liberal D-bag)

[TLI]

“But now, Newtown, Connecticut, vanilla side — low and behold we got a major conversation. That’s wonderful. Each life is precious, but it just upsets me when we’re so deferential.”

Like the total non-reported by the MEDIA story of the non-stop shooting gallery of death called C-H-I-C-A-G-O-?

Over 446 DEAD just this year

Perhaps that is something that he should address with, umm, (just a guess here) THE MEDIA?

Yeah, the same media that he is currently engaging in a bit of footsie?

You know, while he is all busy"weighed in with his thoughts on how the media" is responding "so deferential."

Because Mr. Revered College Professor in the Center for African American Studies and prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America, where Professor West attributes most of the black community's problems to "existential angst derive from the lived experience of ontological wounds and emotional scars inflicted by white supremacist beliefs and images permeating U.S. society and culture," it is that very same "media" that is doing the very thing you are decrying as being unresponsive to the non-WHITES "who are killing each other — or be they black or brown or what have you.”

So, despite that 1973 graduation from Harvard University and receiving a Ph.D. at Princeton University, you have just correctly framed the question (what about the MEDIA bias) BUT YOU INSIST ON BLAMING "WHITEY."

Within that process you have nullified any potential good you might have ever done (debatable) and reduced yourself to the status of Moron, 3rd class.

But here is what you do best...

.

[Essie]

What makes me really sad is the fact that West only shows concern for inner city crime when he thinks that he can exploit it for politicial leverage. Does he care about inner city crime. Not at all, he just cares about himself.

[VeniVidiVici]

Is Cornell West a Cornball for not talking about Black perps in regards to Black victims?

[Jabba the Nutt]

Prof. West, a question, who are the people you are actually criticizing? Not the American People. Who care about all the lives lost. Not conservatives, libertarians, Republicans and right-wingers, who've been wanting to do something about high crime rates for decades.

Prof. West, who runs the "chocolate cities"? Who polices the "chocolate" side of town? Who has created the situation in the "chocolate" neighborhoods, that have resulted in the bloodshed, crime, violence, chaos and hopelessness? Who are these people?

Why, Prof. West, if you ask yourself these questions, the answer is clear. It's your pals, the Democrats, the progressives, the government employee unions, who are responsible.

Prof. West, do you have the courage to face the truth of this? Republicans, conservatives have been run out of these towns decades ago. And upon facing this truth, Prof. West, do you have the courage to draw the consequences and make a public statement against the guilty?

I for one, am not holding my breath.

[willk]

I remember several years ago he came to the Sacramento area. The Sacramento Bee was fawning all over the idiot saying how brilliant he was.

[newzjunkey]

I’d say he’s a racist pig but that would insult pigs.

[supremedoctrine]

HE DOESN’T talk about it!
And he DOESN’T LIKE IT when WE talk about it.
So most of us don’t talk about it to spare people
like Cornel West the embarrassment or risk upsetting
him.
So he waits for us to talk about the tragic events on “the vanilla
side of town”, and instantly it’s imperative that he
talk about minority and ghetto violence.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

I admit, comments like yours do our side NO favors.

What a horrid comment, I pray you re-think such a callous
thought.

[Post Toasties]

Maybe a couple were black - unless they’ve indicated otherwise since I checked last. It was disturbing, no doubt of that.

[tcrlaf]

How many of you truly understand that both the media, and government, are now controlled by people who will stand up and cheer statements like this???

[ilovesarah2012]

I didn’t mean to be callous. I was being honest.

[SeminoleCounty]

Someone should inform Prof West that his fellow Black Ku Klux Klan Racists wanted to take guns and Self Defense rights away from white folks after George Zimmerman capped Trayvon Martin when Martin assaulted GZ

BS that the media only focuses on white victims

[bmwcyle]

Stamp out racist like that.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

Got it, I had little doubt you were being honest.
To me, it’s just sad. They were little children regardless of color.