Analysis Of The Book ' The Souls Of Black Folk '

While working as a professor at Atlanta University, W.E.B. Du Bois rose to national prominence when he very publicly opposed Booker T. Washington's "Atlanta Compromise," an agreement that asserted that vocational education for blacks was more valuable to them than social advantages like higher education or political office. Du Bois criticized Washington for not demanding equality for African Americans, as granted by the 14th Amendment. Du Bois fought what he believed was an inferior strategy, subsequently becoming a spokesperson for full and equal rights in every realm of a person's life.

In the late 19th and 20th century, African Americans were going through hardships. At this period of time, they wanted improvement and wanted to be treated equality but no one had the political background to fight with the Whites. However, two great leaders named Booker Washington and W.E.B Du Bois took the stance and fought for improvement. But, even though they had the goals, they had different strategies for the community.

Viewing “School Enrollment Graph” in (Doc A), it is apparent that W.E.B Du Boise’s strategy for reducing discrimination in schools would not have worked, if it were not for the fact that there simple were not enough people willing to teach black students. Although there were a few black teachers educating young black American’s, it was still not enough to turn the tides of discrimination until a later date. Many people in this time period are just not ready to accept the education of blacks in school. It goes against the values and traditions they were taught. An appropriate reference is that of the talented tenth. The talented tenth was a phrase used by W.E.B. Du Boise to express the possibility that only one out of ten in the black population would one day leaders of the black race. He believed that only through education that this one tenth would one day accomplish this. However, Booker T. Washington’s approach was much more silent and effective. In the Atlanta compromise, Booker T. Washington agrees with southern white leaders for black people to, not promote suffrage for their people, protest against discrimination, all while only getting just basic education, such as training to be a factory worker. The drastic increase in black Americans being enrolled in school in 1895 is due to the Atlanta compromise. This proves that Booker T. Washington’s approach, while cumbersome, was highly effective in comparison to black education

Dawning the year of 1895, the future of Black America finally rested in the hands of the very people to whom it concerned, the black community. Two popular philosophies were presented, and the argument between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois began. These two advocated for very different means of acquiring equality, Washington promotes the economic survival of the masses while Dubois promoted the superior intelligence of the few. The struggle between representing the masses and isolating the few proved to be the deciding factor when determining which philosophy was capable of supporting the desired future of Black America. A future where the economic foundation of the masses proved to be the key to promoting equality among white and black America.

In Chapter three of The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B Du Bois discusses Booker T. Washington and some of his accomplishments for African Americans and also criticizes some of his lack of understanding in his propaganda that he could have done more in his position to progress African Americans status instead of trying to be accepted by the white community. Washington has been criticized by Du Bois because of his “submission” to the white view on African Americans and their rights Du Bois calling him “the most distinguished Southerner since Jefferson Davis” (Du Bois, 1903).

The struggle for equality and the battle to have one’s suppressed voice be heard is prevalent throughout the history of the United States. The Native Americans, women, and even Catholics have all encountered discrimination and belittlement in one shape or form, which eventually urged individuals within those groups to rise up and demand equal opportunity. As the United States began to shift away from slavery, one of the most deep rooted, controversial dilemmas aroused- what do black people need to do in order to gain civil rights both economically and socially? Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Exposition Address” and W.E.B. Du Bois's “The Soul of Black Folks” were pieces of writings influenced by the puzzle that black people were left to solve. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois had contrasting ideas, but they both contributed a piece to the puzzle in hopes of solving the never ending mind game.

Few men have influenced the lives of African-Americans as much as William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B.) Du Bois is considered more of a history-maker than a historian(Aptheker, "The Historian"). Dr. Du Bois conducted the initial research on the black experience in the United States. Civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. have referred to Du Bois as a father of the Civil Rights Movement. Du Bois conducted the initial research on the black experience in the United States, and paved the way for the Pan-African and Black Power movements. This paper will describe his life, work, influence in the black community, and much publicized civil dispute with another black leader, Booker T. Washington.

At the time of the publication of W.E.B. Du Bois’ book, The Souls of Black Folk, differing opinions existed about the most effective method to combat racism in the United States. Some advocated for violent resistance and revenge on the Southern slaveholders who had held them in slavery. Others expressed their beliefs in the ability of nonviolent acts to create change, although there were differing opinions about the function and usage of these acts. Some believed that a slower change was necessary; others believed that equality for African Americans should be promoted and fought for until total equality, in social, political, and economic terms, was achieved. Arguments that promoted total equality and the retention of black identity are most

Racial discrimination, political, social and economic inequality during the late 19th century and early 20th century led various leaders within the black community to rise up and address the appalling circumstances that African Americans were forced to endure. Among these leaders were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois whom possessed analogous desires as it pertained to the advancement and upliftment of the black race. While both individuals were fighting for the same cause and purpose they embraced contrary ideologies and approaches to African American struggle. In Booker T. Washington’s book “Up from Slavery” African Americans were encouraged to be passive and focus on vocational education whereas in W.E.B. DuBois book “The Souls of Black Folk”, African Americans were encouraged to fight for their merited rights and focus on academic education. However, although Washington was convinced that his ideologies would sincerely uplift the black race, they actually proved to be detrimental, leaving DuBois ideology to be the most reasonable and appropriate solution for the advancement of the black race.

In chapter 11 of The Souls of Black Folk, Dubois creates a connection between the death of his infant boy and escaping “the veil.” He discusses the first moment he held his baby boy and how he watched the shadow of the veil fall across the baby; the baby is introduced to a world where “freedom is to us a mockery and whose liberty is a lie.” His child exits this world almost as quickly as he was born into it; and Dubois contemplates why this would happen to him when life is already difficult. Towards the end of the chapter, he changes his perspective on the death of his child, and expresses his belief “…not dead, but escaped… not bond, but free.” He comes to the conclusion that his child might be better off because he was not forced to endure

The turn-of-the-century W.E.B Du Bois wrote his seminal text The Souls of Black Folk in response to what was then called the 'Negro Problem.' The 'Negro Problem' was the question of whether African-Americans should be treated as equal within the firmament of American society and whether integration or separate but equal were more viable doctrines. Du Bois wrote against such advocates of acceptance like Booker T. Washington, and instead demanded parity for his people in terms of opportunities. In the first essay of Du Bois' book entitled "Our Spiritual Strivings," Du Bois writes of his frustrations as a young, African-American child who was intelligent and thoughtful yet all too well aware of how his race would limit his ability to pursue his studies although he

Emotional strength is a mental survival tactic, and can make or break the outcome of a bad situation. The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill tells the story of young Aminata Diallo, born and living in Africa enjoyed her life of serenity training to be a midwife in her village. One day after returning home from delivering a baby, she found her village raided, her parents murdered and soon after she was abducted and sold into slavery. Her life of being sold to various plantations in the United States continues to come with more and more hardships, until she finally finds freedom. Aminata’s ability to make friends and find the good in people during horrible conditions, her ability to set her focus on learning and knowledge are her two main strengths that Aminata demonstrated that affected the chain of events of her life.

One specific moment that was powerful to me is the part where he shares his true feelings about performing this play. The man’s name was Mark Kendall and the story title was called The Magic Black Negro and Other Blackness. This moment that stood out to me in the grand scheme happened during the middle or close to the end of the play. Its funny this stood out to me because as the theatre would erupt in laughter, I was just plainly curious as to why a black man was using the injustice the black people go through as a punch line.

W.E.B. Du Bois is considered one of the top five people of the twentieth century. He is an intellectual, who is admired by both his supporters and adversaries. Du Bois, in his essay, tells his audience that he is not only a genius among blacks, but he is also a revered scholar of humankind. He is well educated among prestigious universities such as Fisk, Harvard, and Heidelberg, and is the first African American to earn a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University. Mr. Du Bois is not a meager intellectual, whose intelligence is measured by the capacity of his knowledge, but he also uses his knowledge to fight for the equality of his people. Among the different identities of Du Bois, he is also the founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). As a reader, one interprets that Du Bois' essay is an authentic narration of the life of African Americans. Du Bois uses context from his point of view as a free man; therefore, his words are less biased than his counterparts. He allows the readers to freely establish their own perspective on the problem of the color people by giving them the chance to see the lives of African Americans before the Civil War through Reconstruction. Du Bois also uses historical references, case studies, and personal storytelling examples to define the problem of the people of African heritage in the United States. The first chapters of The Souls of Black Folk contain historically relevant material,

Labeled as a radical, William Edward Burghardt DuBois had a solid idea for African American progression. “Described variously as the ‘most outspoken civil rights activist in America,’ and ‘the undisputed intellectual leader of a new generation of African- Americans’, Du Bois was considered the inspiration for the literary movement known as the Harlem Renaissance” (Reuben). Known as the "Talented Tenth", in his essay he mentions the Negro race, like all races, being saved by its exceptional men. Du Bois believed that if a small group of black persons attained college educations they would be leaders of the race and encourage the rest to do the same and reach a higher level of education. As a co-founder of the NAACP and the long-time editor of its magazine The Crisis, Du Bois nurtured and promoted many young and talented African-Americans (Reuben). Underlying his controversial notion of "the talented tenth," was his belief that true integration will happen when selected blacks excel in the literature and the fine arts. Du Bois stated, "If this be true—and who can deny it—three tasks lay before me, first to show from the past that the Talented Tenth as they have risen among American Negroes have been worthy of leadership, secondly, to show how these men may be educated and developed, and thirdly, to show their relation to the Negro problem" (Chesnutt et al. 34).