Cornel West 'Living and Loving Out Loud'

Princeton University Professor Cornel West -- the American philosopher, author, critic, pastor, actor and civil rights activist -- compares his lifestyle to the blues in his new autobiography, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud, A Memoir, and in a profile interview with Inside Jersey magazine:

"Just like the musicians, I've got a unique voice. I'm constantly searching for truth. I don't restrict myself to traditional boundaries ... There's a difference between a vocation and a profession. One's a calling, the other's a career. I have a calling. When you have your calling you have to be true to yourself and true to the God that called you. My calling is to try and tell the truth."

West also talks about topics other than himself, such as his support as well as criticisms of President Barack Obama:

"I love Barack, but he's a politician," West says, shrugging his shoulders. "Like all politicians, he's strategic rather than principled sometimes. The challenge of Obama is that the whole world looks to America and the black tradition here, and if all they see is Obama, they're gonna miss out on a lot."

Read more about West from Inside Jersey on NJ.com.