Prairie View, TX - On January 18, 2019, Dr. Cornel West was the keynote speaker for the Prairie View A&M University Symposium, Scholars' Voices Series.

Moments before the event, I was able to sit down with Dr. Cornel West and get some insight on various topics. Dr. Cornel West spoke very calmly and lightly during our conversation, something I found surprising after hearing his public speaking voice. This tone made it more of a conversation than an interview; it was an opportunity for insight and knowledge. Dr. Cornel West has written over 20 books, one of the most infamous being Race Matters, a book that focuses on the reality of black Americans and race in America.

Q: Race Matters just celebrated the 25th anniversary, why do you think that book remained relevant, and why do you think students at HBCUs should read it?

"Well, don't think it's just my one book, but when you think about anybody who is trying to the best of their ability, to tell the truth about white supremacy; the struggle against it and what is coming at black people. As long as white supremacy's racist legacy is in place, there is going to be a need for these kinds of books, a need for these kinds of voices. That book is just one small voice alongside other voices. It's a tradition, that's an important thing to always keep in mind that one voice is a voice in a tradition, it's not all alone, it's not isolated. The fact that one particular voice gets a certain kind of attention is a way of casting attention on the tradition and the people from where you come, the community that produced you. I was just blessed that text surfaced at a particular moment, but there are a lot of other books published at that time that deserve attention too." - Dr. Cornel West

Q: Why is it important to have that voice?

"It's important to have the voice because it's hard to live a life without a quest for truth and justice. To be human, at its highest level, is to muster the courage to try to tell the truth and be of service to others. That's where we come from." - Dr. Cornel West

Through this discussion, it is clear that Dr. Cornel West ties everything in to stem back to one's roots, "where we come from." He continues by focusing on lineage.

"You see your grandparents, my grandparents, your aunts and uncles, the best of who they are is trying to tell the truth and engage in a love, and a quest for justice. We have to keep that tradition alive. Race Matters is just one example of that." - Dr. Cornel West

Q: In today's digital age, what do you believe to be the role of a black intellectual?

"The role of the black intellectual is always to try to expose lies and tell the truth and be of service to people, no matter what. The technology at the moment has one difference, and that is we can use the internet. You see Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglas, W.E.B Du Bois, had the same challenge to expose the lies, tell the truth, be of service to everyday people - especially those who are highly vulnerable." - Dr. Cornel West

Once knowing the importance of one's origin and the simplest responsibilities one has a human, I dove deeper. Gaining clarity into how through higher education, specifically through HBCUs, foster these responsibilities.

Q: The relevancy of HBCUs have been a big discussion as of late, what is your opinion on the relevancy of HBCU institutions?

"Historically Black institutions have produced some of the highest quality folk in this country, no matter what color. In that sense, they're not just indispensable, but it's imperative. And the question is, trying to ensure that they are to be understood intricate to the quest for truth, justice, and to keep the love alive." - Dr. Cornel West

Q: How do you believe students can do this, that are attending these HBCUs? To be apart of the conversation and to foster discourse.

"Well I think the students need to understand very honestly and clearly that they are apart of a great tradition and to be a part of that tradition is to be committed, devoted, dedicated, disciplined, but also playful. Also joyful, that's part of our tradition too." - Dr. Cornel West

Dr. Cornel West then spoke about a critical moment in history that led to the founding of Prairie View A&M University. "Matthew Gaines was a black senator who pushed through the bill for the founding of this institution, a man who was born a slave in Alexandria, Louisiana. A man that escaped was then caught and fought in the Union army. Then after he taught himself to read and write and was elected to the statehouse, and it was his bill in 1876 that created Prairie View." - Dr. Cornel West

Matthew Gaines and fellow senator William H. Holland crafted and pushed for the legislation to create Prairie View A&M University. In honor of them, you can find the Holland & Gaines Memorial Student Park right here on campus.

In the few minutes I had with Dr. Cornel West, I was able to receive a history lesson, and dive into the mind of one the most infamous black intellectuals of the generation. Dr. Cornel West then took the stage in the Willie A. Tempton Memorial Student Center Auditorium to discuss with the entire Prairie View Community. You can watch what happened in the above video.

*This article was previously published online for The Panther Newspaper.