Harvard Graduate Students Stand with Dr. Cornel West
Update: a coalition of undergraduate & graduate groups at Harvard have spearheaded a petition in support of Dr. West. Please click here to read.
In a recent interview, Dr. Cornel West revealed that Harvard has denied his request to be considered for tenure. As graduate students who have shared the campus with Dr. West for a number of years, we view Harvard’s refusal to grant tenure to an intellectual of Dr. West’s stature as disrespectful both to him and to the community he has helped raise. There is no doubt that his publications, advancement of knowledge, public engagement, and teaching record far exceed the requirements of the most scrupulous of tenure processes.
It is almost difficult to believe that Harvard has cited Dr. West’s alleged “lack of scholarship” as a reason for denying him tenure in the past. From the dozens of scholarly books such as his early text Prophesy Deliverance! An Afro-American Revolutionary Christianity (1982) to the journal articles and collected works that make up the 500+ page The Cornel West Reader (1999), Dr. West’s scholarly corpus has been monumental. It has helped advance scholarship in numerous fields as well as broader debate on the most topical issues facing US and global society today. Significantly, 2018 marked the 25th anniversary of Dr. West’s Race Matters, a landmark in the national discourse on race, poverty and justice published in the aftermath of 1993’s Rodney King riots. Race Matters has become a staple in curricula used by race educators across the globe. In her review of bell hooks and Dr. West’s more recent publication Breaking Bread: Insurgent Black Intellectual Life (2016), Black feminist sociologist and past President of the American Sociological Association Patricia Hill Collins writes: “bell hooks and Cornel West’s wonderful volume is theoretical poetry, poetic theory…The scope of topics addressed in the far-ranging conversations between the two authors is breathtaking…[The book] not only theorizes about how a transformed intellectual power might fuse deep moral concern and political engagement — it actually does it.”
We say that it is almost difficult to believe Harvard’s dismissal of West’s prolific intellectual output because we are keenly aware of how predominantly white institutions disregard the contributions of Black scholars. To cast aspersions on Dr. West’s scholarship is not only deplorable, it also casts doubt on the generations of scholars who have benefited from and built upon his work. Farah Jasmine Griffin, Imani Perry, Saidiya Hartman, and Eddie Glaude Jr. are just a few of the intellectual leaders in Black Studies whose published work, institutional service, and pedagogy bear his profound influence.
The number of faculty of color, and especially Black faculty, leaving Harvard has been a growing concern among students for the past five years. Dr. West’s main faculty, the Divinity School, currently has only two tenured Black faculty members. There is only one African American in a tenure-track position on the faculty — Dr. Todne Thomas. The Divinity School’s exclusion of Black faculty in general, and African Americans in particular, has clearly failed to meet the standards set by the values that it extols. Last year over 100 faculty members from the Divinity School and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences signed a letter calling for a ‘comprehensive review’ of the tenure process. As though the ironclad gates of merit that academia has manufactured were not high and arbitrary enough, Harvard has chosen to go even further by institutionalizing clandestine tenure processes mired in opacity that have resulted in a series of unjustified tenure denials.
As graduate students we stand at a revelatory intersection; we spend a significant amount of time with both the student body and the faculty instructing it. We see what happens to both our students and our professors when Dr. West walks into a room. It is not an exaggeration to say that Dr. West’s presence on campus is electrifying. The sight of his familiar black and white suit ensemble signals the presence of kindness, humility and intellectual rigor, a combination that has become increasingly rare among today’s professionalized class of intellectuals.
Dr. West’s contribution to our intellectual training is invaluable. Students who may otherwise, for example, have only come across the monumental work of W.E.B. Du Bois in a few passages from The Souls of Black Folk on other syllabi, speak of Black Reconstruction, Darkwater, and Dusk of Dawn with nuance and ease because Dr. West guides them through a semester-long close reading of Du Bois’ writings. In his philosophy classes at the Law School and the Divinity School, Dr. West reminds his students that in a world that seeks to fragment our very beings we must learn to see the connections between Nietzsche and Nina Simone, between Kierkegaard and Maria Stewart, between Chekhov and Coltrane. For those of us training under him as doctoral students his attentiveness, generous guidance, and comments on our work push us to cultivate intersectional and interdisciplinary analyses that extend the boundaries of our various disciplines.
Every class Dr. West teaches at Harvard begins with his defining the words parrhesia and veritas. The former is a Greek word that means ‘frank speech’, which he tells us is fundamental to our holistic formation as seekers of knowledge, beauty, and justice. The latter is a Latin word meaning ‘truth’. It is also the Harvard University motto, which Dr. West referred to in his Multireligious Commencement Service Address at Harvard Divinity School in 2019 when he asked, “That’s quite an audacious motto for a university, isn’t it? Truth itself. The condition of that truth is to allow suffering to speak, and when that suffering speaks, there must be a Socratic dimension that brings critique on the one hand, but also the prophetic ones that said: Are we willing to enact and embody to the best of who we are?”
We, the students of Harvard University, strive to be the best of who we are in the service of others because of scholars and teachers like Dr. West. He reminds us that solidarity is not abstract, that theories without practice fail, and that our minds do not live in a world apart from the dangers that threaten bodies on the streets.
The loss of Brother West, a towering intellectual and prophetic voice, on our campus would deal a devastating blow to an already near disenchanted community of color. If Professor Cornel West, one of the most important intellectuals of our time, is not deemed worthy of tenure, we must ask — what is the inherent message Harvard is sending to generations of Black scholars and intellectuals? This is an urgent matter of equity and parity for the University. In view of his record as a published scholar, teacher, and mentor, and his moral and intellectual contribution to Harvard and society more broadly, we urge Harvard to do what is right and just — grant Dr. West his much deserved tenure.
Signed,
Mafaz Al-Suwaidan, PhD Student, GSAS
Pamela Nwakanma, PhD Student
Panashe Chigumadzi, PhD Student
Karlene Griffiths Sekou, PhD Student, GSAS
Mark Kabban, Ed.L.D Student
Catey Boyle, PhD Student, GSAS (History)
Shahara C. Jackson, Ed.L.D. Student
Hassan Brown, Ed.L.D. Student
Rev. Steven A. Chambers, Ed.L.D. Student
Sarah Tucker, Ed.L.D. Student
Tauheedah Baker-Jones, Ed.L.D. Student
Ethan Goodnight, PhD Student, GSAS
Seokweon Jeon, PhD Student, GSAS
Parastoo Massoumi, PhD Student, HGSE
Jewel Pereyra, PhD Student, GSAS
Michael Ortiz-Castro, PhD Student, GSAS
Sarah King, Ed.L.D. Student
Charli Kemp, Ed.L.D. Student
Andrew Benitez, Ed.L.D. Student
Jared Fox, Ed.L.D. Student
Yareli Castro Sevilla, PhD Student, GSAS
Steven Harris, PhD Student, GSAS
Carmen Williams, Ed.L.D. Student
Mac Loftin, PhD Student
Eric Stephen, PhD Student, Religion
Jovonna Jones, PhD Student, GSAS
Sherah Bloor, PhD Student, GSAS (Religion)
Aabid Allibhai, PhD Student
Gabrielle Freewomxn Ed.M Student
Jelani Hayes, PhD Student, GSAS
Rev. Leah Rumsey, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Dexter Moore, Jr., Ed.L.D. Student
Darien Pollock, PhD Student, Department of Philosophy, GSAS
Paul Clarke, PhD Student, GSAS
John Nowak, PhD Student, GSAS
Ashley Ison, PhD Student, HGSE
Cresa Pugh, PhD Candidate, Sociology and Social Policy, GSAS
Gladys Aguilar, PhD Candidate, HGSE
Eve O’Connor, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Kailah Lee McGee, PhD Student, GSAS
Michael Vázquez, PhD Student, GSAS
Ayana Henderson, PhD Candidate, GSAS/HMS
José Del Río Pantoja, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Xavier du Maine, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Ellis Reid, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Tiara Lacey, PhD Candidate, GSAS/HMS
Reva Dhingra, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Janelle Fouche, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Kelcee Everette, PhD Candidate, GSAS/HMS
Eddie Kim, PhD Candidate, HGSE
Hania Mariën, PhD Student, HGSE
Gabrielle Webb, PhD Student, GSAS/HSPH
Shandra M. Jones, PhD Candidate, GSAS/HGSE
Javad T. Hashmi, MD, PhD Candidate, CSR, GSAS
Adonius Lewis, Ed.L.D. student, HGSE
Becca S. Bassett, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Farah El-Sharif, PhD Candidate, NELC, GSAS
Jarrett Martin Drake, PhD Student, GSAS
Armaan Siddiqi, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Latifeh Aavani, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Elís Miller Larsen, PhD Candidate (Philosophy)
Olivia Woldemikael, PhD GSAS
Gulchehra Rikhsieva, PhD Candidate, HMES/WGS
Ericka Rio Sanchez, PhD Student, GSAS
Sohini Upadhyay, PhD Student, GSAS
Emma Rackstraw, PhD Student, GSAS
Sam Bozoukov, PhD student, GSAS
Mark Wright, PhD Student, GSAS (OEB)
Oliver Lazarus, PhD Student, GSAS
Wyatt Sarafin, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Tsiona Lida, PhD Candidate (History) GSAS.
Marcella Hayes, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Jonah Pearl, PhD student, GSAS
Samora Pinderhughes, PhD Candidate, Music Department, Creative Practice & Critical Inquiry
Della Syau, PhD Student, GSAS
Caroline Filice Smith, Phd Student, GSAS/GSD
Lilia Kilburn, PhD Student, GSAS
Mary McNeil, Ph.D. Candidate, GSAS
Zeke Benshirim, PhD Student, GSAS/HMS, College ‘19
Edom Tesfa, PhD student, HGSE
Jonathan Karp, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Elinor Hitt, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Cana McGhee, PhD student, GSAS
Boryana Hadzhiyska, PhD Candidate (Astrophysics), GSAS
Ege Yumusak, PhD Student, Department of Philosophy, GSAS
Ione Barrows, PhD student, GSAS
Maya Anjur-Dietrich, PhD candidate, GSAS
Carolyn Boudreau, PhD Candidate, GSAS/HMS
Kai Morsink, PhD Student, GSAS
Andrew Bergman, PhD Student, Applied Physics, GSAS
Daniel Eaton, PhD Student, Systems, Synthetic and Quantitative Biology (SSQBio) Program, GSAS
Lauren Taylor, PhD Student, GSAS
Sarah Corrigan, PhD student, GSAS
Francesca Bellei, PhD student, GSAS
Danila Crespin Zidovsky, Ed.L.D., HGSE
Toly Rinberg, PhD Student, Applied Physics, GSAS
Alexander Hartley, PhD student, Department of Comparative Literature, GSAS
Alberto Parisi, PhD candidate, Comparative Literature, GSAS
Kristen Zipperer, PhD student, GSAS
Drew Pendergrass, PhD student, GSAS/SEAS
Lara Norgaard, PhD Student, Comparative Literature, GSAS
Marisa Borreggine, PhD Candidate, Earth and Planetary Sciences, GSAS
Jenny Maron, PhD student, GSAS/HMS
Shandukani Mulaudzi, PhD student, Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics, HMS
Belle Cheves, PhD Student, History and Middle Eastern Studies, GSAS
Swarnabh Ghosh, PhD Student, GSAS/GSD
Steven Rizzo, PhD Student, Religion, GSAS
Emily Wright, PhD student, Population Health Sciences, HSPH
Tiffany Brown, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Patrick Emedom-Nnamdi, PhD Candidate, Biostatistics, GSAS
Hannah Conway, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Bettine Gibbs Pharm.D., Ph.D. student, Chemical Biology, HMS
Ya’el Courtney, PhD Student, GSAS/HMS
Christofer Rodelo, PhD candidate, American Studies, GSAS
DeAnza A. Cook, PhD Candidate and Harvard Student Worker, History, GSAS
Keletso Makofane, PhD candidate, Population Health Sciences, HSPH
Rodrigo Telles, PhD Student, GSAS/SEAS
Aaron Brennen Benavidez, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Gabriella Herrera, MD Candidate, HMS ’21 (MPH, HSPH ’20)
Olivia Carpenter, PhD Student, English Department, GSAS
Will Pruitt, PhD Candidate, African and African American Studies, GSAS
Keisha Knight, PhD Student, GSAS
Valerie Werder, PhD Student, Film and Visual Studies, GSAS
Nace Zavrl, PhD Student, Film and Visual Studies, GSAS
Abhinav Ghosh, PhD Student, HGSE
Orelia Jonathan, PhD Student HGSE
ilkim karakus, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Abigail Mariam, Ph.D. Student, Sociology and Social Policy, GSAS
Tiffany Nichols, PhD Candidate, History of Science, GSAS
Michael O’Krent, Comparative Literature, GSAS
Avriel Epps-Darling, PhD Student, GSAS
Olivia Crough, PhD Candidate, Department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies, GSAS
Sebastian Jackson, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Karla Martinez Nevarez, PhD Student, GSAS/HMS
Anna Neumann, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Renugan Raidoo, PhD Candidate, Social Anthropology, GSAS
Danube Johnson, PhD Candidate, Religion, GSAS
Armanc Yildiz, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Shireen Hamza, PhD Candidate, History of Science, GSAS
Matthew Volpe, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Jonathan Andersen, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Nathaniel Braffman, PhD Candidate, GSAS (Chemistry and Chemical Biology)
Brandon Enalls, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Gabriel Filsinger, PhD Student, GSAS
Jessica Dickson, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Jennifer Austiff, Ph.D. Candidate, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, GSAS
David Mazumder, MD & PhD Candidate, GSAS, HMS
Chelsea Hall, PhD Candidate, Religion, Gender, and Culture, GSAS
Stephanie Wu, PhD Candidate, Biostatistics, GSAS
Daniel Arias, PhD Student, GSAS
Balraj Gill, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Jacob Muscato, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Erica Sterling, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Yasmene Mumby, M.A.T., J.D., Ed.L.D., HGSE
Nate Herter, Phd Candidate, Classics, GSAS
Diego Aldarondo, PhD Candidate, HMS, GSAS
Aaron Van Neste, PhD candidate, History of Science, GSAS
Matlin Gilman, MPH, PhD student (incoming), Population Health Sciences, GSAS
Wythe Marschall, Ph.D. candidate, History of Science, GSAS
Jordan Howell, PhD Candidate, Department of the History of Science, GSAS
Anya Yermakova, PhD Candidate, History of Science and Critical Media Practice, GSAS
Davindar Singh, PhD Student, Ethnomusicology, GSAS
Pei-ling Huang, PhD Candidate, Ethnomusicology, GSAS
Parker Hatley, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Grace N. Ngugi, PhD Student, GSAS
Mycah Conner, PhD Candidate, History, GSAS
Nicholas L. Cuccia, PhD Candidate in Applied Physics at GSAS/SEAS
Thomas Werkmeister, PhD Candidate, Applied Physics, SEAS
Annie Stephenson, PhD Candidate, GSAS
Marie Wesson, PhD Candidate, Applied Physics, SEAS
Eliza Cornell, PhD Student, Applied Physics, SEAS
Ahmed Sherif, PhD Student, Applied Physics, GSAS/SEAS
If you are a doctoral student at Harvard and would like to add your name and endorse this statement, please email drwestsolidarityletter@gmail.com using your Harvard email address. Please provide your name and any Harvard affiliation you wish to add.
