Submitted by Woman in the Woods Productions.

A major figure in contemporary American thought is coming to Orcas Center on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Woman in the Woods Productions is bringing Dr. Cornel West, a prominent and provocative intellectual who styles himself a practitioner of “public philosophy,” to the island. Even though he has spent five decades studying and teaching at some of America’s most highly regarded universities, he is better known for his lectures and public appearances (the Bill Maher Show, CNN, C-Span and more) and for the 20 books he has written.

Dr. West has taught courses in a wide range of subjects — religion, philosophy, African American history and thought, the classics, politics, cultural theory, literature, and music. He also has been featured in several documentaries, and appeared in Hollywood films (The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions). And yes, this man of many interests also hosts podcasts and has made several spoken word and hip hop albums! His Master Class includes a segment on “John Coltrane as Philosopher.”

In a nod to West’s interest in music, Woman in the Woods has arranged for a special musical treat to kick off our evening. Enjoy the Steve Alboucq/Oliver Groenewald Quintet featuring vocalist Gail Pettis, as they set the stage for Dr. West’s presentation.

During the past five years, Woman in the Woods has brought to Orcas outstanding artistic performances of many kinds: plays, dance, slam poetry, and historical presentations. And, of course, great music!

Fittingly, Dr. West has been invited to share with our Orcas Island audience his thoughts about the role that artists and their works play in social movements.

The grandson of a Baptist minister, Dr. West’s writing and lecturing draws upon his Christian faith. He calls himself a “Christian revolutionary,” with a passion to communicate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. – a legacy of telling the truth, and bearing witness to love and justice.

Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Cornel Ronald West understands the effectiveness of civil disobedience. He has been arrested many times.

In public, Dr. West speaks with the powerful assurance of a minister, using his distinctive, gravelly, elongated vowels for emphasis (“DEF-inite-leeee”). But it is said that in his classroom, West is no showman – he listens, and carefully considers all sides of an argument. Learning, for learning’s sake.

Cornel West grew up in Sacramento, where his mother was a teacher and school principal. His father worked at the nearby Air Force base. Their son obtained his Bachelors Degree from Harvard University in three years, graduating magna cum laude in Near Eastern languages and civilization. He received his PhD in Philosophy from Princeton University, and went on to a distinguished academic career: first at Harvard, then to Yale Divinity School and Union Theological Seminary, before returning to Princeton to become a professor of religion and director of the Program in African-American Studies from 1988 to 1994.

After Princeton, Dr. West was lured to Harvard University, which then was building the nation’s leading African-American studies department. His introductory class on African-American studies was one of the university’s most popular courses. He was given a joint appointment at Harvard Divinity School.

Last year, West rejoined the faculty of Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, holding the prestigious Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair. Union Theological Seminary has been affiliated with its neighbor, Columbia University, since 1928.

Perhaps Dr. West’s most influential books have been Race Matters (1993), a highly acclaimed New York Times Bestseller, and Democracy Matters (2004). Also well received were his 2009 memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud, and his 2015 book, Black Prophetic Fire, which examines nineteenth- and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies. His most recent book is Hope on a Tightrope: Words & Wisdom (2021).

One of the most recognizable and preeminent intellectuals of his generation, this prolific African-American thinker and cultural icon will be here for one night only, Sept. 24. Tickets are available at www.orcascenter.org under “Upcoming Events” at $95 per ticket. Masking is still required for all events inside of Orcas Center.