Becoming a Tiger

After graduating from Harvard, West headed toNew Jersey, where he became the first black man toreceive a doctorate in philosophy from PrincetonUniversity, earning his masters in 1975 and a Ph.Din 1980.

In 1977, West launched his career in academiawith an appointment as assistant professor ofphilosophy in New York's Union TheologicalSeminary. He later held positions at the YaleDivinity School and Barnard College and served atthe Harvard Divinity School in 1984.

In 1987, West accepted a tenured position atPrinceton University as professor of religion anddirector of the school's African-American studiesprogram.

Arnold Rampersad, currently the Kimballprofessor of English at Stanford University, was acolleague of West's at Princeton.

"He's a very honorable man, very sympathetic,very giving," he says. "[West] is a person ofgreat integrity and warmth."

As West's academic reputation grew, Harvardbecame increasingly interested in luring West backto his alma mater. But West turned down a 1990offer to join the Afro-American studiesdepartment, which at the time had only one tenuredFaculty member.

In 1991, Gates assumed leadership of thedepartment and the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute forAfro-American Research, and soon Harvard againcame knocking. In 1994, West answered.

Faring Well at Harvard

When Gates first arrived at Harvard, he drew upa "fantasy list" of intellectuals he would like toattract for the Afro-American studies departmenthere. West figured prominently on the list, butGates says he likened attracting him to "throwinga Hail Mary pass."

"There are very few people who would give up achairmanship and move and begin building a newdepartment," Gates says. "Harvard University willbe eternally grateful for the active courageCornel West manifested in leaving anextraordinarily comfortable and nourishingenvironment to join other people in building a newentity."

Rampersad termed West's return to Harvard as"the turning point of his life." Newspapers suchas the New York Times and the Boston Globeannounced a major "coup" for Harvard when hisappointment was announced on Nov. 10, 1993. Gatesand University President Neil L. Rudenstinelavished praise on West and heralded therejuvenated Afro-American studies department.

Princeton, on the other hand, was devastated.

"I don't think Princeton has ever recoveredreally," Rampersad says. "It was a tremendous lossfor us, but it was important that [West] be happyand his work be maximized."

Despite his personal disappointment, Rampersadcould understand West's desire to return to hisalma mater.