Summary Of The Souls Of Black Folk By W. E. B. Dubois

W.E.B. Du Bois (1968-1963) was a huge contributor to sociology through the eyes and experience of an African-American scholar (Vissing, 2011). Du Bois was an author, activist and student of Black sociology. In his 1897 article, Strivings of the Negro People”, Du Bois introduced the term “double-consciousness”, a concept I believe to be just as relevant in today’s African-American communities. Double consciousness refers to what Du Bois considered an absence of “true self consciousness” (Du Bois, 1897) amongst Africans in America. In place of that absence, lies a dual awareness- awareness of one’s self combined with an awareness

Du Bois relates his experiences as a schoolteacher in rural Tennessee, and then he turns his attention to a critique of American materialism in the rising city of Atlanta where the single-minded attention to gaining wealth threatens to replace all other considerations. In terms of education, African Americans should not be taught merely to earn money. Rather, Du Bois argues there should be a balance between the "standards of lower training" and the "standards of human culture and lofty ideals of life." In effect, the African American college should train the "Talented Tenth" who can in turn contribute to lower education and also act as liaisons in improving race relations.

Growing up Du Bois often played with the white kids in school, and he strived to be recognized for being more knowledgeable in all aspects than they were, however, he came to realize that it would never be possible. Through interactions with other black boys Du Bois was made aware of his limitations, nevertheless, he, like many black people fought to be optimistic in finding ways to take these opportunities that were so rightfully theirs. However, the question emerged of how could a person strive to be prosperous and have everything that the race he so greatly detest has, without being considered dishonorable by his own people? Many African Americans are brainwashed and fall under the misconception that having an education, a career, or even speaking proper, falls into the category of acting white. This ideology places a lot of stress on many successful black people, who growing up faced bullying and were described as a disgrace to their own race.

DuBois’ double-consciousness is quite simply the twoness of American Negroes. It is this sense of “always looking at one’s self through the

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.

The Souls of Black Folk, written by W.E.B DuBois is a collection of autobiographical and historical essays containing many themes. DuBois introduced the notion of "twoness", a divided awareness of one's identity. "One ever feels his two-ness – an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled stirrings: two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keep it from being torn asunder" (215). There are many underlying themes in this collection of essays. One of the themes that DuBois speaks on extensively is education.

naturally endured identity issues. I feel that W.E.B Du Bois’ idea of double consciousness comes

Chapter one of The Souls of Black folk is called “Of Our Spiritual Strivings”. W.E.B Du Bois discussed the struggles that African Americans encountered in the old days and the challenges he encountered. Du Bois first time experiencing discrimination was when a new female student in Du Bois’s elementary school class refused to swap her card and receive Du Bois’s card. This bad experience gave Du Bois a reality check. He believed that he was a problem because he was different. He questioned God on why he created him as black. He decided to commit to being a better person than white people at many things. Du Bois also talked about double consciousness and how African Americans have to guide themselves betwixt two worlds.

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.

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

Double Consciousness refers to a concept first explored by WEB Du Bois. This describes the African American man and his identity having to be split or divided. In other words it “describes the individual sensation of feeling as though your identity is divided into several parts, making it difficult or impossible to have one unified identity” (WEB Du Bois). Moreover, Du Bois also expresses that Black Americans have lived in a society that has made them feel inferior, it can become extremely difficult for them to bind their black identify with their American identity. This can in turn, cause blacks to look at their

William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B) Du bois was a sociologist, author, and civil rights leader born during the late 1860’s. Du bois was the first African American to graduate at his high school and also was the first African American to receive a PhD from Harvard University. Unfortunately, due to the fact that racism is embedded in our society, Du Bois did not receive praise, and instead was ignored for his work while he was alive. However, Du Bois’s work today could be seen as the most important on the subject of race and class (his main concern was with the nature and intersection of race and class), especially his well known book “The Souls of Black Folk”(1903) (pg. 257). This book was a compilation of

Du Bois speaks on the idea of double consciousness from the standpoint of an educated black man. Because it was very uncommon at the time for a black man to have his level of education, he felt this sense of being classified into two different groups being a black man and being educated, but fitting into neither for reasons of ranking and race. He was associated to both these groups but didn’t really feel like he belonged because amongst the black crowd he was educated. He couldn’t connect with them academically or on an intellectual level because black people back then were rarely educated and if they didn’t have the same degree of knowledge he possessed. He also didn’t fit in with the people of same educational background as him because most of that population were mainly white middle class man, and with racism being highly prevalent, he didn’t fit in with educated men because they only saw his color.

The Souls of Black Folk is a classical American literature published by W.E.B Du Bois in 1903. The book is a semi work in history of sociology. It contains several essays on races and personal experience from Du Bois himself, as an African American. W.E.B Du Bois was an American sociologist, civil right activist, Pan-Africanist, author, writer and editor. He grew up in a relatively tolerant and integrated community. He was the first African American to earn doctorate. The Souls of Black Folk is written during the decade of slavery ending. The book discuss Du Bois ideas about what blacks and American should do in order to achieve equality for all. He is seeking answer in his book by asking what type of leadership can lead blacks into democratic society and how blacks could achieve identity of both black and American.

The Souls of Black Folk (1903) by W.E.B. Du Bois is one of the most influential works of African-American literature and an American classic. In The Souls of Black Folk (1903), Du Bois suggests that "the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line." This piece of literature raises several issues such as social justice, civil rights, and racial discrimination. Unfortunately, the issues of civil rights and racial discrimination are still prevalent issues in the U.S. today. Ever since the country’s founding, Native Americans have suffered discrimination and injustice, and they are still struggling for civil rights as they face poverty, the lack of leadership, and racial discrimination.