in 1970, west graduated from john f. kennedy high school. he enrolled at harvard university and took classes from philosophers robert nozick and stanley cavell. in 1973, he graduated "magna cum laude" in near eastern languages and civilization. "owing to my family, church, and the black social movements of the 1960s", he says, "i arrived at harvard unashamed of my african, christian, and militant de-colonized outlooks. more pointedly, i acknowledged and accented the empowerment of my black styles, mannerisms, and viewpoints, my christian values of service, love, humility, and struggle, and my anti-colonial sense of self-determination for oppressed people and nations around the world."