Photo: DarrellNance / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Cornel West, born on June 2, 1953 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, is a theologian, philosopher and university teacher. As of 2026, Cornel West is 73 years old. Education on record includes John F. Kennedy High School and Harvard University. Recorded honors include Four Freedoms Award – Freedom of Worship, American Book Awards (1993), Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize (2005) and 3 more. Credited works include Black Prophetic Fire.
My Take
Cornel West strikes me as a rare intellectual who refuses to stay in the seminar room. Harvard-trained philosopher and theologian, American Book Award winner, and a tireless voice for racial justice, he carried his ideas all the way to a 2024 independent presidential run. What I find compelling is his delivery: he preaches philosophy like jazz, urgent and improvisational, insisting that knowledge belongs in the streets, not the ivory tower. You can disagree with his politics and still respect the conviction. For me, West embodies the dangerous, necessary blend of a sharp mind and a burning heart.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Cornel West
- Name (Japanese)
- コーネル・ウェスト
- Reading
- こーねる・うぇすと
- Born
- June 2, 1953 (age 73)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Snake
- Origin
- Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
- Occupation
- theologian / philosopher / university teacher / actor / critic
2. Background
- High school
- John F. Kennedy High School
- University
- Harvard University
Awards & achievements
- Four Freedoms Award – Freedom of Worship
- 1993 American Book Awards
- 2005 Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize
- 2009 honorary degree from Spelman College
- 1996 James Madison Medal
- 2004 honorary doctor of Paris 8 University
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Black Prophetic Fire | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttps://cornelwest.com
- Xhttps://x.com/CornelWest
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornel%20West
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8D%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q712469
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Cornel West born?
Born June 2, 1953 (age 73).
Where is Cornel West from?
Cornel West is from Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States.
What does Cornel West do?
Cornel West works as theologian, philosopher, university teacher, actor, critic.
What is Cornel West known for?
Notable works include Black Prophetic Fire.
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