Cornel West & Carl Dix In Dialogue at UCB

IN THE AGE OF OBAMA, POLICE TERROR, INCARCERATION, NO JOBS, MIS-EDUCATION--WHAT FUTURE FOR OUR YOUTH, a dialogue between CORNEL WEST & CARL DIX.

Cornel West, one of America’s foremost intellectuals, and Carl Dix, a founding member of the Revolutionary Communist Party, are bringing their Dialogue, In the Age of Obama –– Police Terror; Incarceration; No Jobs; Mis-education: What Future for Our Youth” to UC Berkeley as part of a tour of campuses around the country.

The speakers dissect the multitude of unprecedented challenges facing youth today – from massive incarceration and police brutality, to widespread joblessness and budget cuts, to the U.S.’s unending global wars, to the pervasive racism confronting youth of color at every turn.

This Dialogue is a spirited back-and-forth between two of the nation’s foremost thinkers on some of the most pressing issues today -- one in the spirit of the Black church and liberation theology, and the other from the standpoint of revolutionary communism. Though differing in perspective, they are joined by their profound respect for each other and commitment to today’s youth. Both understand the urgency of cracking open the national discourse, and fostering a spirit of critical engagement and daring in confronting and changing the dangerous situation the new generation faces.

The Dialogue comes at an especially significant time as struggles from the Occupation movement to the hunger strikes in California’s prisons erupt through society. Both speakers have been deeply engaged in these battles, both were recently arrested during demonstrations in New York in support of a call they issued to stop New York City’s “Stop & Frisk” program in which hundreds of thousands of mostly Black and Latino youth have been stopped, searched and harassed by police.

This event is free and open to the public and the speakers will have an extensive Q&A.

Email ucb_cornelwest_carldix_dialogue [at] hotmail.com and search “Dec. 2 UC Berkeley
Cornel West Carl Dix” on Facebook for more information.

CORNEL WEST is one of America’s most provocative public intellectuals and has been a champion for racial justice since childhood. His writing, speaking, and teaching weave together the traditions of the black Baptist Church, progressive politics, and jazz. The New York Times has praised his “ferocious moral vision.” Dr. West currently teaches at Princeton University.

CARL DIX is a longtime revolutionary and a founding member of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA. In 1970 Carl was one of the Fort Lewis 6, six GIs who refused orders to go to Vietnam. He served 2 years in Leavenworth Military Penitentiary for his stand. In 1985 Carl initiated the Draw The Line statement, a powerful condemnation of the bombing of the MOVE house in Philadelphia. In 1996, Carl was a founder of the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality. Carl coordinated the Katrina hearings of the 2006 Bush Crimes Commission.