Du Dubois Analysis

“These words sank deep into my heart, stirred up sentiments within that lay slumbering, and called into existence an entirely new train of thought. It was a new and special revelation, explaining dark mysterious things, with which my youthful understanding had struggled, but struggled in vain. I now understood what had been to me a most perplexing difficulty – to wit, the white man’s power to enslave black men. It was a grand achievement, and I prized it highly. From that moment, I understood the pathway from slavery to freedom” (20).

The discriminating social stratification in 1950’s developed a set of servile behavior on the blacks. They were thought to be inferior to whites, and were treated accordingly. Moreover, different parts of the country had various ranges of sensitivities while dealing with the blacks. For example, in Mississippi things were particularly tense after the Parker lynch case. No black man would dare look into any white man’s eyes in fear of the repercussions. On the bus, a man warned Griffin to watch himself closely until he caught onto Mississippi’s ways. In an extreme case like this, it was vital to learn about their roles and behave accordingly.

Frederick Douglass Accomplishments: Frederick Douglass was a very accomplished person. He was known to fight against slavery in the South. He escaped when he was 16, and ever since then he decided to speak out against slavery. Many African Americans, then and now think of him as a hero, but what did he do to become a hero? Why was it important then, and what are its effects now?

Before even coming to America, he would always hear stories about how racist and discriminant the educational system was which worried him; he knew that leaving his country and moving out here on his own was a big risk. Even though schools were desegregated, it was still completely split between White people and Colored people. Although he did not remember the name, he discussed the Brown v. Board of Education case and how that was very important to him because even though he was not Black, he still faced a few of the same struggles. As a Brown man, he experienced a lot of racism; from racial slurs being yelled at him to actually getting jumped on his way home. Although he struggled to fit in, he was able to form really solid friendships with people; especially through the love of rock and roll and

The “new” negro no longer embodied “old” characteristics that defined a black man. Society had always taught a black man how to act; however, now he was adapting to the world. Locke declared that ‘the Old Negro’ had long become more of a myth than a man” (Locke, 1). A furthered and detailed definition of an “Old Negro” was that he “was a creature of moral debating historical controversy” (Locke, 1). The four

He saw the conditions they lived in, and how they were treated. On Nov. 24th he stayed the night at a kind black man's house, they didn't have running water to bath, a

“If you teach the Negro that he has accomplished as much good as any other race he will aspire to equality and justice without regard to race. Such an effort would upset the program of the oppressor in Africa and America. Play up before the Negro, then, his crimes and shortcomings. Let him learn to admire the Hebrew, the Greek, the Latin and the Teuton. Lead the Negro to detest the man of African blood--to hate

Not at lot had changed since slavery had ended. They are still being mistreated and thought as second-class citizen and even as not even human. He gave examples as how himself and other African Americans were addressed in an everyday setting. One of the

The history of America is one that can’t be discussed without talking about the Negro. Whether we want to admit it or not, the Negro has played an integral part in making what America what it is today. If it wasn’t for the profits generated from slavery, there would have been no way that America would have been the country that it is today. The slavery that the Negro endured has produced some positive and negatives, but it is the negatives that have been something that the Negro hasn’t been able to overcome for hundreds of years. It is these same negatives that have compelled some of the greatest black minds in history to create solutions to these problems. Minds such as Crummell, W.E.B Du Bois are some of the minds that have come up with

hypocrite white society in front of the world. He wanted to promote the philosophy of Black

In the eyes of the Negro John, he had to work harder from his lack of previous education and, his seen as, uncultivated

Several times the author alludes to the narrator’s naivety and ignorance of how he, as a black man, was viewed in society. The narrator first shows that he believes he makes his own decisions, when in reality he is manipulated by white men at the club, “Blindfolded, I could no longer control my motions.”(p.22). Moreover, he thinks that his perception of the world is clear and is confused at the lack of respect he is afforded, “I was unused to darkness.”(p.21). By foul actions of the men the narrator looked up to, his bright world is destroyed and all that is left is the darkness; a brutal realization of what it means to be black.

He wish to be a big voice, but white people controlled southern America in early twentieth centuries so he saved his money for making a city for black American. People’s living style relatively gets better at that time but racial inequality affected a lot to black American culture. “exceptin' dis place dat colored folks was buildin' theirselves. Dat was right too. De man dat built things oughta boss it.

He even stated," I finally made up my mind that I would neither disclaim the black race nor claim the white race;..." (139) He tried to be what society had called him; he was not colored. Therefore, the problems that colored people faced regularly were not his problems and did not stir him to action. Their problems were not his problems. An unnamed author from a Philadelphia telegraph said, “He seems to have possessed most of the instinct and accomplishments of the white race and fitted himself to move in average, white society with credit, if not with distinction." (290) Disguising your true identity is not cause for praise, but rather a sign of weakness. Excuses for not excepting ones roots should not be extolled and revered, but seen as a

The third and final possible starting point is his childhood home in Shadyside. Nothing particularly traumatizing happened in this passage but it’s still important none the less. In this he talks about how he grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood. He was around white people all the time and felt that they had it easier than him. Also