In February, we reported on the farce then playing itself out at Harvard University’s Afro-American studies department. Cornel West—pop philosopher, rap musician, political advisor to the Al-Sharpton-for-president campaign—was in a snit because Harvard’s president, Lawrence H. Summers, had the temerity to suggest that he do some real scholarly work. After all, West was one of only fourteen Harvard faculty members to hold the coveted title of University Professor. He was being paid a small fortune. Shouldn’t he perform like a University Professor? Ah, but that would be to hold Professor West to the same standards as his white colleagues. How unfair.

President Summers was soon made to see his error. A revolt among the black faculty at Harvard along with a couple of front-page stories and a blistering editorial in The New York Times saw to that. Not only did President Summers retract his ...

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