Intelligentsia Beef: Cornel West Calls Melissa Harris-Perry a Fake and a Fraud
Professor Cornel West has expressed his displeasure with more mainstream black academics in the past, but now that Melissa Harris-Perry has her own show on MSNBC it seems that the scholar has ramped up his attacks on her in particular. In a recent interview with Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine, West said of Perry:
“I have a love for the sister, but she is a liar, and I hate lying … she’s become the momentary darling of the liberals, but I pray for her because she’s in over her head. She’s a fake and a fraud. I was so surprised how treacherous the sister was.”
Treacherous? Cornel West has always had a flair for hyperbole, but really?
His claim stems from his belief that she does not speak for the best interests of black America and instead is a liberal plant, put in place to pacify us and mainstream our thinking. He and Tavis Smiley, talk show host and his partner in the “Poverty Tour,” have spoken out many times against Barack Obama and the ways in which he enables economic oppression. Melissa Harris-Perry has been supportive of the administration, also departing from the West-Smiley agenda in that she expresses a more modern, feminist viewpoint.
The crabs in a barrel image comes to mind very quickly here, which is a shame because we really need a united front of black leadership and accusing folks of “treachery” for not snapping into line with any particular agenda cannot lead to that. There’s always room for dissent among our leaders but does it really have to come to this?
Melissa Harris-Perry’s new show premieres on February 18 on MSNBC.
What do you think?
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Cornel West in my opinion has degraded himself, how do you denbate by calling people namesthis is a low form of discourse. What he as an erudite person should be doing is debating issues or points of disafgreement with the sister. to say sghe is a liar, fraud and a liberal pllantis just crass and idiotic. What is the issue here?tell us do not call her names say i do not disapprove of you here are the facts not insuslts
Yea…Well. People need to practice what they preach….I’ve been on other black blogs and you can tell who is friends with who….it’s funny to me. To see the bias attitudes towards the poor…..Just so you can say there is some uppity mixed president in the white house(call em how I see em) So, they spend a great deal of time attacking Dr. West and Tavis Smiley in the media for speaking up. I appreciate West and Smiley for trying to give a voice to people who don’t have one …in this country. Obama is no saint….so…anywho.
And everybody knows if you cut the right amount check….Al Sharpton will say anything. PERIOD
Cause.. Jesus just loved him some cheddar and camera time…LOL
It is refreshing observing the exchange between Black intellectuals it is long over due. Every aspect of the Black experience deserves to be evaluated and examined. Keep it civil but keep it coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First, that photo is pure comedy!
Here’s some context as to what Mr. West may have been upset about.
http://www.thenation.com/blog/160725/cornel-west-v-barack-obama
Disagreement is a natural part of discourse, although I feel like Mr. West’s reaction was a bit over the top and his wording choice was poor.
Perhaps this is just his style of speaking, but it’s ironic that he is engaging in disingenuous double talk while calling someone else a liar. “love, sister” ≠ “treacherous, liar.” The icing on the cake was “I’ll pray for her”. I can just see an old church lady huffing and puffing saying that about someone she can’t stand.
Say you respectfully disagree with her, say her claims are baseless, say she’s a plant if that’s what you really feel, but all this “love, sister,” nonsense just makes you sound like another phony politician
I agree with @Thrasher as long as it is a dialogue supported by facts there is nothing wrong with expressing negative opinions, if anything it is healthy. We need to move away from the hand holding ‘we shall overcome” attitude, relationships and race politics are a lot more complex than that.
On another note being a public persona comes with a responsibility, if he is making these remarks because of private interactions they have had they don’t belong in this arena. I want to see debate and disagreement not back biting and attacking..
yes, cornel went over the top but context is everything. Melissa launched a really personal attack on him in the Nation a while back. 2 wrongs don’t make a right and both are as bad as each other at this point.
Dr. West is correct and to further add to his comment, What is two or three hand picked blacks, (Shopton & Perry) on msnbc as opposed to the past five years of targeted crimes by his masters./suffe ch
Dr. West is correct and to further add to his comment, What is two or three hand picked blacks, (Shopton & Perry) on msnbc as opposed to the past five years of targeted crimes by his masters.
I think one of the biggest issues and issues with many of Black politicians, news anchors and activists is that they don’t realize that all of those occupations are independent of each other. Barack Obama is not an activist for the betterment of African-Americans sure he is a Black president and in a sense he does represent us but essentially his job is the commander and chief of this entire country not just the people in his race. If he took such an approach he would be deemed a racist by the GOP. Same thing with Melissa, she’s a political commentator not an activist for African-American sand until we change our mind frame and realize that this fight is not JUST ours, there will never be someone of Dr. King stature that has a show on MSNBC.
I do think we need a strong leader but some people simply are not cut out for that thing and why should we want to be led by someone who is not good at doing such? If Cornel West wants to make a difference he needs to stop talking down about our people and continue to push forward and see progress his own individual mission. Not everybody has the same values, not everybody is going to stand behind you. Many Black people have grown complacent with our current state which is an issue but calling people out is not going to help that. Push forward and hope and pray that eventually the rest will follow.
http://www.ellecherieamour.wordpress.com
Melissa Harris-Perry is a rock stat! The first black woman to have a show that is politic driven! Thank God! I have lost all respect for Cornell West and Tavis Smily! What is their point? As a diverse group, we do not need to be bullied into taking up someone’s cause/blief when it is not ours. We are allowed to be whole humans. West and his partner in crime Smily attempt to dehumanize/demonize and thus discredit because someone has a different mind set then their own or becuase someone resist their bullying. It’s shameful! Plus Melissa is a woman so West is even more enbolden to attack her. The article Boyce Watkins was skewed towards West. They are all on the same side which is against Melissa. They are jealous! Bottom Line-CRABS in a DEEP BARRELL!
That is a suitable picture because West is fast becoming a caricature. I have the utmost respect for Melissa she is always reasoned and insightful and I see her point even when I don’t necessarily agree with her.
Cornel West has mental issues..Case closed.
i think that mhp might be a ‘liberal plant’: she’s clearly in obama’s pocket. that doesn’t mean that west isn’t a self serving caricature of himself using ‘the people’ as a guise for his own ego and entitlement.
if west is angry about what she wrote in the nation, he should really just be mad at himself. there was nothing at all off-base or below the belt in what mhp wrote. she won that exchange, west came back with stupid attacks and now she’s just moving on to better things.
like west, early in his career, mhp offers some good insights. and, like west early in his career, i’ll be skeptical of her race performances and alliances.
Jealousy, envy, foolishness! These two guys have been in the public eye with their dramatics for years and simply cannot accept Melissa’s success. One day black people will learn to stand together even when there is disagreemenet. That’s one of our biggest problems. Instead of embracing success, they take the “good ole white boys” route that blacks are incompetent, over their head, or lucky. That’s what they say about our President. Please find a barbershop and a dentist and stop your nonsense. Ten years ago they complained that there are no opportunities in media for blacks, now that we see some advancement, they appear to say, OK, you’re right Mr. Charlie, we’re not competent enough to be seen and heard in the National media. I’m not impressed with his big words and theatrics! You’re an embarrassment!