20 YEARS AGO I HEARD CORNELL WEST SPEAK ABOUT RACE AND RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY HE ENDED THAT TALK THEN BY SAYING HE WASN'T OPTIMISTIC BUT HE WAS HOPEFUL HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT OPTIMISM REQUIRES EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS BUT HOPE REQUIRES NO SUCH EVIDENCE AND IS SIMPLY A SPIRITUAL LEAP OF FAITH THAT WE CAN