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Dr. Cornel West joined Roland Martin on “NewsOne Now” to discuss his new book, “Black Prophetic Fire.” During their wide ranging conversation, Dr. West discussed the premise of his book, Ferguson, his criticism of President Barack Obama and the subsequent backlash for publicly opposing the nation’s first Black commander-in-chief.

SEE ALSO:  The Cornel West Black Prophetic Fire Podcast

When talking about his new book, West told Martin, “I want people to know that we come from a great people, a great tradition.”

“When you look at the towering figures who have the courage to think critically, to speak candidly to act courageously and to be willing to sacrifice, even popularity for integrity, truth, honesty and decency. That’s the voice in [Frederick] Douglass, Ida B. Wells, Ella Baker. That’s Martin King, Malcolm X.”

West added, “ the younger generation needs to know the landmarks.”

West’s new book coincidently coincides with the ongoing Ferguson protests that are spreading across the nation and around the world.

The often times controversial West explained to Martin he started “Black Prophetic Fire” six years ago. “I had no idea that it would coincide with Ferguson,” West said.

West said when he looks at the young activists in Ferguson he sees them as having “prophetic fire inside of them. They need to have memory. They need to have a sense of history, of course they are hungry for, they’re thirsty for that sense of  history.”

Dr. West also talked about the state of education in our community, police brutality, mass incarceration,  battle between the young and old in the movement for social justice, Black leadership and those in power too afraid to push a Black agenda. And, of course his love for the music of the late Jazz great, John Coltrane.

You can listen to his entire commentary in a previously released edition of the “NewsOne Now” Audio Podcast, The Cornel West Black Prophetic Fire Podcast.

Be sure to listen to “NewsOne Now” with Roland Martin, weekdays at 7 a.m. EST and watch at 9 a.m. EST on TV One.

Subscribe to the “NewsOne Now” Audio Podcast on iTunes.