Childhood and Education Journey of Cornel West in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Cornel West. A timeline of key moments.

Cornel West is a prominent American philosopher, theologian, political activist, and public intellectual known for his outspoken voice in left-wing politics. He ran as an independent candidate in the 2024 United States presidential election. West's work often addresses issues of race, class, and justice, drawing from a variety of intellectual traditions, including Marxism, pragmatism, and prophetic Christianity. He is a social critic who engages in public discourse on contemporary issues and is recognized for his contributions to American intellectual life.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

June 2, 1953: Cornel West Born

On June 2, 1953, Cornel Ronald West, an American philosopher, theologian, and political activist, was born.

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1970: Enrolled at Harvard College

In 1970, Cornel West enrolled at Harvard College after graduating from high school.

1973: Graduated from Harvard

In 1973, Cornel West graduated from Harvard magna cum laude in Near Eastern languages and civilization.

1980: Received Ph.D. from Princeton

In 1980, Cornel West received a Ph.D. from Princeton University, becoming the first African American to graduate with a Ph.D. in philosophy from that institution.

1987: Punishment and Commute to University of Paris

In 1987, after being arrested during campus protests at Yale, Cornel West's leave was canceled, leading him to commute to the University of Paris in Saint-Denis while teaching two classes at Yale.

1988: Professor at Princeton

In 1988, Cornel West became a professor of religion and director of the program in African American Studies at Princeton University.

1994: Professor at Harvard

In 1994, Cornel West accepted an appointment as professor of African American studies at Harvard University.

1998: Alphonse Fletcher University Professor

In 1998, Cornel West was appointed the first Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and was also inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa at SUNY Plattsburgh.

April 2002: Civil Disobedience with Rabbi Michael Lerner

In April 2002, Cornel West and Rabbi Michael Lerner engaged in civil disobedience by sitting in the street in front of the U.S. State Department in solidarity with suffering Palestinian and Israeli people, and West emphasized the importance of recognizing the humanity on both sides.

October 2002: Harvard Crimson suggests Law and Order episode based on West's conflict

In October 2002, The Harvard Crimson suggested that the premise of the "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" episode "Anti-Thesis" was based on Cornel West's conflicts with Lawrence Summers.

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2006: Founded Center for African American Studies

In 2006, Cornel West helped found the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University.

May 2007: Demonstration Against Israeli Occupation

In May 2007, Cornel West joined a demonstration against injustices faced by the Palestinian people resulting from the Israeli occupation and to bring attention to this 40-year travesty of justice.

November 29, 2007: Speech at the Apollo Theater in Harlem

On November 29, 2007, Cornel West spoke to over 1,000 of Barack Obama's supporters at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, publicly supporting the 2008 Democratic presidential candidate.

2008: Support for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign

In 2008, Cornel West publicly supported Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, making 65 speeches in support of the campaign, but he worried privately that Obama was the "Johnny Mathis of American politics".

2009: Criticism of Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

In 2009, Cornel West criticized Barack Obama when he won the Nobel Peace Prize, suggesting it would be difficult for Obama to be "a war president with a peace prize".

April 2011: Retraction of Support for Obama

In April 2011, Cornel West retracted his support for Barack Obama in an interview, stating that Obama is "a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a black muppet of corporate plutocrats" and had become "head of the American killing machine".

October 16, 2011: Participation in Occupy D.C. Protests

On October 16, 2011, Cornel West participated in the Occupy D.C. protests on the steps of the Supreme Court over the court's decision in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case.

2011: Call to Divest from Companies Profiting from Israeli Occupation

In 2011, Cornel West called on the University of Arizona to divest from companies profiting from the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

2011: Response to Critics of Occupy Wall Street

In 2011, Cornel West expressed his frustration with critics of Occupy Wall Street, defending the movement against claims that it lacked a clear and unified message.

2011: Participation in 'Poverty Tour' with Tavis Smiley

In 2011, Cornel West participated in a "Poverty Tour" with Tavis Smiley, which became a two-part special on their radio program, Smiley & West, and a five-night special on the PBS television program Tavis Smiley.

November 2012: Obama as a 'Rockefeller Republican in blackface'

In November 2012, Cornel West said in an interview that he considered Barack Obama a "Rockefeller Republican in blackface."

2012: Publication of 'The Rich and the Rest of Us'

In 2012, Cornel West and Tavis Smiley recounted their experience on the Poverty Tour in their bestselling book, The Rich and the Rest of Us, which aimed to highlight the plight of the impoverished population of the United States prior to the 2012 presidential election.

The Rich And The Rest Of Us: A Poverty Manifesto

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October 13, 2014: Arrested at Ferguson Protest

On October 13, 2014, Cornel West was arrested while protesting against the shooting of Michael Brown and participating in Ferguson October.

2014: Co-Initiation of Stop Mass Incarceration Network

In 2014, Cornel West co-initiated the Stop Mass Incarceration Network, a project of the Revolutionary Communist Party USA. Later that year, he and RCP chairman Bob Avakian took part in a filmed discussion on "Religion and Revolution".

2014: Criticism of Obama as a 'Counterfeit'

In 2014, Cornel West criticized Barack Obama in an interview, calling him a "counterfeit" who posed as a progressive and defining his presidency as a "Wall Street presidency, a drone presidency, a national security presidency".

August 10, 2015: Arrested at St. Louis Protest

On August 10, 2015, Cornel West was arrested while demonstrating outside a courthouse in St. Louis on the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown's death.

August 24, 2015: Endorsement of Bernie Sanders

On August 24, 2015, Cornel West tweeted his endorsement of Bernie Sanders, stating that he is a long-distance runner with integrity in the struggle for justice for over 50 years.

July 2016: Endorsement of Jill Stein for President

In July 2016, after Bernie Sanders exited the presidential race, Cornel West endorsed Green Party nominee Jill Stein and her running mate Ajamu Baraka, referring to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton as a "neoliberal disaster".

August 2017: Participation in Counter-Protest at Unite the Right Rally

In August 2017, Cornel West participated in a counter-protest at the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was part of an interfaith, multiracial clergy group, and stated that Antifa had saved their lives.

2020: Support for Bernie Sanders' Presidential Bid

In 2020, Cornel West once again put his support behind Bernie Sanders, who mounted a second presidential bid in that election cycle.

June 5, 2023: Announcement of Presidential Run

On June 5, 2023, Cornel West announced he would run in the 2024 presidential election under the People's Party, sparking criticism due to the party's lack of ballot access and other issues.

October 5, 2023: Abandoning Green Party Nomination

On October 5, 2023, Cornel West announced that he was abandoning his strive for the Green Party nomination, and would instead continue his presidential bid as an independent candidate.

February 1, 2024: Establishment of the Justice For All Party

On February 1, 2024, Cornel West announced the establishment of the Justice For All Party (JFA), which he claimed would pursue a strategy of securing ballot access in specific areas.

August 2024: Polling Below 1% Nationally

As of August 2024, Cornel West was polling below 1% nationally, his campaign was $17,000 in debt, and he was no longer actively campaigning.

August 2024: Disqualification from Michigan Ballot

In August 2024, Cornel West and his running mate Melina Abdullah were both disqualified and denied entry onto the 2024 Michigan presidential election ballot.

2024: Green Party Nomination Pursuit

In 2024, Cornel West decided to seek the Green Party nomination instead, running a campaign centered around support for Medicare for All, public housing, action on climate change, and drastically cutting the U.S. military budget.