Wilentz, West, and Black Intellectuals: A Reply

Let me say straight off that I do not think the Sean Wilentz article “Race, Celebrity, and the Intellectuals” (Summer 1995) warranted publication in Dissent. Why? Because of protocol. As a long-time reader of Dissent from its start-up days under the deft leadership of Irving Howe and Lewis Coser, I don’t ever recall Dissent’s publishing reputation-measuring articles on members of its editorial board. Cornel West is one of two African-American members of Dissen...