The Revolution of Reason

Sara Ludwig, Manjari Drees, Annika Molzahn

Hubert Henry Harrison

Hubert Henry HarrisonApril 27th 1883 – December 17th 1927West Indian American writerRadical socialist political activist based in Harlem, NY‘father of Harlem radicalism’Founded the Liberty League and The Voice (newspaper)Encouraged the development of class consciousness among working people

Emma Goldman

Emma GoldmanJune 27th 1869 – May 14th 1940Anarchist, known for political activism, writing, and speechesPlayed important role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the 20th centuryBorn in Kovno (Russian Empire), emigrated in1885 to USFree thinking ‘rebel woman’ Issues in writings: atheism, freedom of speech, capitalism, free love, marriage, etc.

Cornel West

Cornel WestBorn June 2nd 1953American philosopher, writer, activistFirst African American to graduate from Princeton with PhD in philosophy Works focus on class, gender, race in American societyMost influential books: Race Matters (1994) and Democracy Matters (2004)

Appears on networks, like CNN, PBS, co-hosted a radio program and several documentaries

Journal Questions1. According to Harrison, what is the cause of slavery

and why?

2. How is the image of the color line presented in Harrison’s text?

3. According to Goldman, what is the idea of God and where does it come from?

4. What is the aim of the philosophy of atheism?

5. In how far did the ‘god idea’ change over the years and what is the reason?

6. According to Goldman, why is the idea of God an enslavement of mankind?

7. Why is atheism seen as a concept of ‘a real world’?

8. According to West, what does prophetic religion mean? What is his intention?