Dyson-West Clash

The Dyson-West Clash

Since late Sunday evening, several people have sought my reaction to the recent article written by Michael Eric Dyson in The New Republic, criticizing Cornel West. Invariably, the inquirers expressed some remorse that two Black intellectuals of wide public recognition would be involved in such a visible war of words.  Admittedly, this was my sentiment at first. But the more I thought about it, the less I felt the open exchange should end, but rather, now that it has broken out into full view, how interesting and maybe helpful it would be if we who pay attention to such things could watch and see where it all leads.  The personal tone of this controversy is bound to wear thin very soon; then maybe the substance that divides these two Princeton Ph.D.’s might break into the light. After all, the aggrieved community of people whom both men would claim to care about most has a real investment, not in personal invective, but in what substance lies beneath all the noise. These were my first thoughts.

After re-reading the brilliantly crafted article by Dr. Dyson though, and considering the time and care it must have taken to write it, my mind took off in another direction, wondering who aside from Dyson would have an interest in taking West down a few notches, if not totally destroying him? That’s when I really felt eager to “go on to see what the end’s gonna be.” Perhaps having a better understanding of who these people are, and their interests, will help the reader put the whole thing into useful perspective.  Only an open and unfettered exchange will force the conversation to dig deeper and expose more of what ought to be uncovered.

Putting aside for a moment the verbal attacks aimed at Dyson by West, and the hurt this must have caused a mentee coming from a much-admired mentor, there is surely a constituency of silent rooters that will take comfort in West’s diminished voice on such disconcerting issues as U.S. drone strikes, the plight of poor, black and brown residents of post-industrial cities, the plight of the Palestinians, the militarization and brutality of local police departments, the deportation of immigrants and all those other inconvenient things West just won’t shut up about.  That is, if Dyson succeeds at putting West in his “well-earned” place as an unproductive, attention seeking, academic has-been.

The problem is there are quite a few not-so-silent rooters who are counting on West to keep talking, to keep making noise, to keep asking questions, to keep pushing the envelope. And frankly, this is what folk who are suffering the most in these urban wastelands/war zones wish both of these highly educated, public intellectuals would do instead of taking pot shots at each other.