Anderson Cooper fights back tears during emotional interview with Cornel West
Following George Floyd's emotional funeral Tuesday, Harvard University professor Dr. Cornel West made an appearance on Anderson Cooper 360, where he gave a moving speech that brought tears to the eyes of the CNN anchor. "I saw brothers marching in, like in Shiloh Baptist church, and pick up that coffin and go and walk out, my daughter was there, couldn’t take it, man. Been at this for over 50 years. And yet, I got to bounce back, and I will bounce back, because we got a love that the world can't take away," stated West as Anderson Cooper's eyes began to water. "The world, white supremacy may make being black a crime," West continued. "But we refuse to get in the gutter. We will go down swinging like Ella Fitzgerald, Muhammad Ali, in the name of justice. And we do it for brother Wyatt, and we do it for my daughter, we're doing it for the Asians, we're doing it for the whole world. Because that is the only hope of the world and that kind of love is always tragic, comic and cruciform. You gotta get ready to be crucified with that kind of love." "The Floyd family lifted up that spiritual moral banner in the midst of a moment in which we got all these lies and crimes and be it – to benefit the Pentagon, or Wall Street, or White House, or even Congress itself. We know they don't represent the best of this country. It's just that the best of this country right now seems to be so powerless," said West. Following West's empowering speech, Cooper fought back tears as he shared, "I never had the honor of taking one of your classes. But I feel like I'm a student of yours and I learn lessons every time you speak." West reached out to Cooper, saying, "No, we're in it together, brother." West added, "We cry because we care, we're concerned. It is not about political correctness, it's not about self-righteousness, we cry because we are not numb on the inside and we don't have a chilliness of soul and a coldness of mind and heart." As Cooper and West continued their conversation about the importance of integrity, honesty and decency moving forward, West pointed out that what we were all seeing during Floyd's funeral was humanity, as his legacy is poised to change the world.
Video Transcript
CORNEL WEST: We got a love that the world can't take away. The world-- white supremacy may make being black a crime, but we refuse to get in the gutter. We will go down swinging like Ella Fitzgerald, Muhammad Ali in the name of love and justice.
KYLIE MAR: Following George Floyd's emotional funeral Tuesday, Harvard University Professor Dr. Cornel West made an appearance on "Anderson Cooper 360," where he gave a moving speech that brought tears to the eyes of the CNN anchor.
ANDERSON COOPER: I feel like I'm a student of yours and I learn lessons every time speak. And [SIGHS] I just think it's--
CORNEL WEST: Now we in it together, brother.
KYLIE MAR: As Cooper and West continued their conversation about the importance of integrity, honesty, and decency moving forward, West pointed out that what we were all seeing during Floyd's funeral was humanity as his legacy is poised to change the world.
CORNEL WEST: Because they were scribing significance that this precious person made in the image of God, whose body was now going-- undergoing the extinction and his soul ascending, you see. And this is what connects us as human beings.
KYLIE MAR: And while West said that, quote, "in many ways, we're losing it, we have to keep on fighting."
CORNEL WEST: So I salute the Floyd family. I salute all of the [INAUDIBLE] and we just have to bear witness. But love you though, brother.
ANDERSON COOPER: Love you too. Thank you, Dr. West. Appreciate it.
