As a young man, DR. CORNEL WEST was deeply touched by the stories of parishioners who, only two generations from slavery, told stories of Blacks maintaining their religious faith during the most trying of times. West was equally attracted to the commitment of the Black Panthers, whose office was nearby his boyhood church. It was from the Panthers that West began to understand the importance of community based political action. Currently the Class of 1943 University Professor of Religion at Princeton University, prior to his appointment Professor West was the Alphonse Fletcher, Jr. University Professor at Harvard University teaching in Afro-American Studies and Philosophy of Religion. He received his AB from Harvard University and his MA and a Ph.D from Princeton University. He taught at Yale, Union Theological Seminary and Princeton University where he was Chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies. He is an author of numerous articles and books including The Cornel West Reader, Race Matters and The African American Century.