Dr. Cornel West visits USC for MLK Day

Tuesday, I was able to hear the inspirational Dr. Cornel West speak. Even though many may call him a radical, I believe he is revolutionary and truly understands the issues of humanity. His overall message was that most ideas wouldn't exist without the doings or ideals of those who came before us; also, love should be the basis of your fight against wrongdoings, not hatred or anger. Below are a few quotes that stood out to me: 1. "Don't become well-adjusted to injustice." To me, this means to pay attention to the wrongdoings of this world as if they have never happened before. Another individual, another family, and another community is devastated every time an injustice occurs in the world, whether it is police brutality or other forms of racial discrimination. This has somewhat been a problem for me, given the fact that there has been an abundance of police brutality. It has been hard to separate all of the victims along with their stories and their backgrounds. We cannot become desensitized to an epidemic because then we fail to realize its severity. In order for the future to be different for those who come after us, each injustice should be attacked vigorously with love at the root of the fight. 2. "Everybody's suffering." This quote was eye-opening. Being a Black female in America, I usually only notice the injustices faced by women, but especially by African-Americans. I often forget that there is a world full of people who suffer on a different caliber than myself. For example, when is the last time you thought about the many Syrian refugees? This story was very popular in the last few months, but since we are not experiencing their plight, their misery is often lost in the wind. Americans often become self-absorbed even though we have an overarching duty to HUMANITY. We must understand that we are not the only ones who are struggling toward "freedom" whether that is the freedom to be ourselves, religion, speech, etc. America has some fixing to do, but so does the rest of the world. 3. "I am who I am because someone loved me." If you truly think about this quote, it is very true. No one can get to the place they are at without the help of someone who truly loved them. This help may not be financial; it could be emotional support or even wisdom. This idea stuck out to me the most because I can personally relate to it. I know that without my support system, I would be a different person living a totally different life. This is the life that is meant for me, and every day I am closer to truly understanding my purpose in life. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along my journey and those who have believed in me since I was a little girl. You are appreciated. *All of these quotes are taken from Dr. Cornel West's speech at the University of South Carolina on January 19, 2016*

jessicahosey.wordpress.com