Cornel West and Tricia Rose host a live Vice Presidential Debate After Party featuring special guests Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Matt Gonzalez, and Tricia Zunker. U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee represents California's 13th District and is a leading member of the Congressional Progressive, LGBT Equality, and Black Caucuses. Matt Gonzalez ran as an independent vice presidential candidate in 2008 and was president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors when Sen. Harris was elected S.F. District Attorney ...
Oct 08, 2020•49 min
Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg reveals to Cornel West and Tricia Rose what he said in his testimony during the Julian Assange extradition hearing and sheds light on America's dark side - then and now. Click here to watch Dr. West's conversation with Julian Assange, recorded inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in May 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0Np-DxdHas Producer's note: This conversation was recorded a few hours before President Trump revealed his positive COVID-19 diagnosis...
Oct 04, 2020•58 min
Anthony Fauci, M.D. delivers a prescription of hope in the midst of this global pandemic and sets the record straight after getting name-checked twice during the presidential debate. Plus, Office Hours is in session as Cornel West and Tricia Rose check in on our collective and personal mental health. Producer's Note: This was recorded a few hours before it was revealed that President Trump tested positive for COVID-19. Mental Health Resources: For crisis counseling and support related to COVID-1...
Oct 02, 2020•55 min
On this episode of The Tight Rope, Oscar-award winning actor Mahershala Ali opens up powerfully to our hosts Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose about his life, his religion, his supporting role in Green Book, and his upcoming leading role in Blade. You won’t want to miss this fascinating, honest, and spiritual conversation with Mahershala. In Office Hours, Dr. West and Tricia remember Breonna Taylor and discuss the specific and collective loss felt about the decision to not charge the cop...
Oct 01, 2020•1 hr 13 min
Professors Cornel West and Tricia Rose reflect on the decision by Black Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron not to hold those responsible for killing Breonna Taylor accountable - and how the Movement for Black Lives can address this week's shooting of two Louisville police officers. Learn more at https://www.thetightropepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetightropepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetightropod Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thetightropepod Creator/EP...
Sep 25, 2020•8 min
Episode Summary On this episode of The Tight Rope, Professor Tricia Rose’s favorite MC of all time, Rakim, joins her and Dr. Cornel West for a conscious-raising conversation about the past, present, and future of hip hop and the “turning point” that this moment could be. Rakim lets us into his creative process and shows us that no one knows better than him the power of words, especially the words truth and humility. Dr. West and Tricia hold Office Hours to discuss the politics surrounding the wh...
Sep 24, 2020•1 hr 8 min
Professors Tricia Rose and Cornel West reflect on the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and offer solace to those of us mourning the painful consequences as much as the loss, in this special edition of Office Hours. Learn more at https://www.thetightropepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetightropepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetightropepod Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thetightropepod Creator/EP: Jeremy Berry EP/Host: Cornel West EP/Host: Tricia Rose Producer: ...
Sep 21, 2020•21 min
Professors Cornel West and Tricia Rose are open for Office Hours and this week, they examine the troubling past and present of America's bodily control of POC. A whistleblowing nurse alleges that an OB/GYN performed "questionable" hysterectomies on undocumented women inside a private ICE detention center in Georgia - and now Democrats in Congress hoping to defeat the President in November are investigating. Learn more at https://www.thetightropepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thet...
Sep 18, 2020•9 min
Episode Summary On this episode of The Tight Rope, Professor Noam Chomsky shares with our hosts, Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose, the wisdom that only comes with 91 years of experience. Linguist, social critic, and political activist, Professor Chomsky confronts issues of survival as he speaks on the impacts of the COVID pandemic and the decisions of the Trump administration locally and globally as well as the feasibility and necessity of a New Green Deal and the heroics of everyday, u...
Sep 17, 2020•45 min
Nikole Hannah-Jones, winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize, shares her upbringing in Iowa, the influence of Ida B. Wells, and the roots and reaction to her seminal 1619 Project. Learn more at https://www.thetightropepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetightropepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetightropepodTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/thetightropepodCreator/EP: Jeremy Berry EP/Host: Cornel West EP/Host: Tricia Rose Producer: Allie Hembrough Producer: James Artis Beats x Bu...
Sep 11, 2020•1 hr 11 min
Episode Summary Bootsy Collins transforms The Tight Rope on this Special Funk Edition. Bootsy, Dr. Cornel West, and Professor Tricia Rose talk all things funk in the context of the perils of following trends, the process of self-acceptance and self-discovery, confronting fear, and the “manipulation of the funk.” Bootsy shares details about his upcoming album The Power of the One. Hear what funk means to Bootsy Collins and how we must be funky in our own lives on this episode of The Tight Rope. C...
Sep 10, 2020•52 min
Jazz elder and survivor Sonny Rollins shares his incredible stories from the past nine decades as one of the preeminent tenor saxophone players. He also delivers some existential wisdom for these challenging times and tells us why “It’s all good.” Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/PCLOfeA7mX8 Check out “Rollins in Holland”, a brand new archival release from Resonance Records in partnership with the Nederlands Jazz Archief, coming out later this year. The deluxe 2-CD and limited-editi...
Sep 07, 2020•58 min
Episode Summary Former police officer and F.B.I. agent Dr. Erroll Southers, director of Homegrown Violent Extremism Studies at the University of Southern California, reveals how to transform racist police departments from within, his motivations to join law enforcement, and the “ticking clock” which domestic white terrorists use to countdown to the year 2045, when America's population is expected to become majority P.O.C. Plus, in Office Hours, hosts Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose exp...
Sep 03, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Cornel West and Tricia Rose reflect on the good, bad, and ugly coming out of Wisconsin following the shooting of Jacob Blake and deadly attack on #BlackLivesMatter protesters by child soldier Kyle Rittenhouse. "Thank God we've got this marvelous resistance taking place. Across the board. Beginning with the Milwaukee Bucks and with brother LeBron James. We salute them." -Cornel West "Seeing so many Black men speak from sadness, fear. It was less about a anger and more about a smoldering sadness b...
Aug 28, 2020•22 min
Episode Summary Join Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose on this episode of The Tight Rope in their compelling conversation with NFL superstar and author of Things That Make White People Uncomfortable Michael Bennett. From the strong women in his life and the path to embracing his intellect, to the exploitation of celebrity and “ownership” in the NFL, Bennett engages on all levels with our hosts. Office Hours focuses on “COVID in the Classroom,” both its impact on the learning environment ...
Aug 27, 2020•1 hr 11 min
Cornel West and Tricia Rose bring you live coverage and commentary of the final night of the 2020 #DemConvention featuring Joe Biden's speech from Wilmington, Delaware and special guests Congressman Ro Khanna, Zephyr Teachout, Howie Hawkins, and Angela Walker. https://www.thetightropepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetightropepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetightropepod Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thetightropepod Host: Cornel West Host: Tricia Rose Creator/EP: Je...
Aug 21, 2020•2 hr 16 min
Episode Summary In this episode, Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose nail down issues of white allyship, undoing invisible racist ideologies, and the hallmarks of possessive investment in whiteness with their beloved guest Professor George Lipsitz. They provide commentary on the leadership of the Black freedom movement of the past and present as well as the “slow violence” of racism rooted in power, interest, and property. Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose hold office hours to offe...
Aug 20, 2020•58 min
Day one of The Tight Rope @DemConvention watch party. Cornel West and Tricia Rose are joined by guest commentator Connie Rice from the Advancement Project. They unpack the keynote speeches of Bernie Sanders and Michelle Obama as well as speeches by Jim Clyburn, Doug Jones, and Amy Klobuchar. Watch our #DemConvention watch party live between 9-11pm ET during Joe Biden’s speech Thursday August 20 and Donald Trump’s speech Thursday August 27. Click here to receive reminders about our live watch par...
Aug 18, 2020•2 hr 19 min
Episode Summary In this episode of The Tight Rope, our hosts are joined by Dr. Cornel West’s very own student at Harvard, award-winning actress, producer, and change agent Yara Shahidi of Grown-ish fame. Learn about Yara’s passion for storytelling, her new production company 7th Sun that she launched with her mother, as well as her Black Iranian heritage. Yara reads and discusses her favorite passage from James Baldwin. The episode ends with a fascinating Office Hours discussion on John Lewis, h...
Aug 13, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Episode Summary In this episode, Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose dance with their respected guest Jane Elliott on The Tight Rope. Known for her Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes Exercise and continued advocacy for anti-racist education and activism, Elliott debates with our hosts about the nature of racism and the language we use to discuss it. They wrestle with the inspiration of the present moment and the necessity to recognize the economic realities of the “lies” about race, along with the ever-...
Aug 06, 2020•56 min
Episode Summary In this episode of The Tight Rope, award-winning hip hop artist Lecrae joins Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose for dialogue about posturing in the world of rap, the meaning of being a revolutionary Christian in today’s world, and the importance of having moral courage no matter what your ideology. They critique the policing of genres and stereotypes of Trap music. Lecrae also speaks vulnerably about his healing journey from depression after the “American dream” failed him...
Jul 30, 2020•50 min
Episode Summary In this episode of The Tight Rope, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore joins Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose to shine light on the current state of crisis in America, white privilege, white fear, and citizen filmmakers. They emphatically connect the catastrophe of the criminal justice system to larger issues and discuss ways to move into a “new normal” that challenges bystander sensibility and police accountability taken out of the larger context of democratic...
Jul 23, 2020•47 min
Episode Summary In this episode of The Tight Rope, Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose extol the excellence and creativity of Black athletes, along with their special guest NBA legend Isiah Thomas. They discuss the role of education in and out of the home and how to bequeath to younger generations the tradition of having the courage to be the best. Thomas shares his experiences growing up in the 60s in the West Side of Chicago and the spirituality of taking care of people. Dr. West, Profes...
Jul 23, 2020•47 min
Episode Summary In this episode of The Tight Rope, Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose connect with Tony award winning actor and rapper Daveed Diggs to dive into his career, upbringing, influences, and playing the “fool.” They wrangle with the nuances of hip hop past and present, colorblind ideologies in theater, and the healing power of Black creativity. Get ready for the twists and turns in this episode of The Tight Rope! Cornel West Dr. Cornel West is Professor of the Practice of Public...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Episode Summary In this episode, things get heavy on The Tight Rope as Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose, with their special guest Gina Belafonte, navigate the balance that artists must keep to be accessible and also stand resolutely for social justice. Spotlighting the importance of lyrical vision and imagining, they uncover paths to hope and sustenance in today’s music and its role in social movements. In the context of her father Harry Belafonte’s legacy, Gina Belafonte deepens the co...
Jul 23, 2020•48 min
Episode Summary Dr. Cornel West and Professor Tricia Rose unravel the Black pain of the present in the context of the tremendous legacy of African American creativity and music, in this special extended version of Office Hours. They connect Black musical tradition to the current political moment and pay special homage to Prince and his iconic “Purple Rain.” Discover how you can transform this current moment in this important episode of The Tight Rope. Cornel West Dr. Cornel West is Professor of ...
Jul 23, 2020•51 min
Episode Summary In this inaugural episode of The Tight Rope, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez aka #AOC shares her whirlwind journey from New York City to the halls of Congress, pulls the curtain on power, and explores what it will take to heal our nation. Plus, hosts Cornel West and Tricia Rose reflect on the movement to #DefundThePolice in their Office Hours segment. Cornel West Dr. Cornel West is Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard University. A prominent democratic...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 8 min
