By AMANDA MEADER
Staff Writer
 

The fundamental question driving West's speech was whether or not Americans have the resources to "seriously and substantively deal with evil in American civilization." West posed to his listeners the question of what it means to be human, prompting us to think about the unnecessary suffering of so many different people in our country.

West talked about poor treatment of African-Americans, Asians, the elderly, the disabled, the indigenous, homosexuals and more.

"And don't confuse this with cheap p.c.chit chat," he told his listeners vehemently. "We're talking about human suffering and human history that affects each and every one of us."

Professor West also brought to attention the approaching new millennium, and the fact that our country is some ways no better than it was over a century ago. He pointed out the new bill to balance the budget and the stock market that is breaking records weekly if not daily.

However, West also pointed out that 1% of the population owns 48% of the wealth, and that many people are getting mistreated. Professor West lamented the state of our "dog-eat-dog world" where self-serving mentalities have led to the disappearance of everyday kindness and a sense of community.

"And this has everything to do with race because it is about the struggle against evil," West explained. "In the end the question of whether we adequately deal with race and the issue of white supremacy goes hand in hand with whether we can revitalize public life in America."

West gained the full attention of his listeners quickly, and despite the serious nature of his message, he at times drew laughter from the crowd with his sarcasm.

While the majority of first-year students found Race Matters (his most recent novel) to be dry and verbose, their response to West's address was positive.

West closed with a confession to his listeners: he does not think that the struggle against evil will be won quickly or easily, and it most likely won't be done in his lifetime.

"I am not an optimist" he said, "but a prisoner of hope."

And hope is sometimes all we have to hold on to.