(born June 2, 1953)  His background is in theology.  He is a Marxist and a Christian.  

He is a very effective writer and speaker.

Historical references:

• Decolonization of the Third World.

• The insurgence of non-WASP intellectual sub-cultures.

• After WWII - field coverage principle.  Thanks to GI bill African-Americans were able to afford school.

• 1960s - Re-politicization of American literature.  Tendency to make literary study more political.

• Influence of European literature critique theory.

• The revisioning of American History.  It ran parallel with History of literature. History teachers evaluated their teachings.  During this period African American literature was offered.

• Growing influence of popular culture.  Low culture over high culture.

Canons are always constructed on the logic of exclusion.  It's what they leave out of the canon that they question not what's put in.  Trends affect the canon.

West is clearly interested for the canon to include writers of color, but remains highly suspicious.  Why?  Because the canon was never intended to be the end all of our society, just the best it can be.