W. E. B. Dubois: A Civil Rights Activist

W.E.B Du Bois was an African-American Activist that earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University. That made him the first African-American in History to earn such a high degree at a high-class University. W. E. B. Du Bois was also a very talented writer one of his quotes were “The slave went free; stood a moment in the sun; then moved back again toward slavery.” The slaves gained freedom in 1865, which meant they no longer were forced to be property or work without payment. Some African-Americans uplifted themselves into the Middle Class in which were brought luck. They were delighted and strongly believed that education was vital for their people. They eventually were able to attend school and learn some skills. They received information to refine

The essay that I am presenting today is “Strivings of the Negro People” by W.E.B Dubois. This essay was written in as an article in the Atlantic Monthly in 1987, but before I get to essay, I would like to give some background information about Mr. Dubois. Both scholar and activist, W.E.B. Du Bois was born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He studied at Harvard University and, in 1895, became the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard. He wrote extensively and was the best known spokesperson for African American rights during the first half of the 20th century. Du Bois co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909. He died in

W.E.B. Dubois The great African American intellectual W.E.B. Dubois was born in the post-Civil War era. Being born at this time encouraged him to fight for equal rights for blacks. At this time, blacks were still suppressed very greatly. Dubois, having had lived in an all black community, experienced racism first-hand in the North (Donalson, 558).

W.E.B. Dubois was the rivaling civil rights leader during the early 20th century. W.E.B. Dubois believed that through political action and education, full-citizenship of African Americans in America would be achieved. At first, he agreed with Booker T. Washington’s teachings, however through time Dubois realized flaws within Washington’s ideas. Dubois, in “Soul of Black Folk” writes, “The black men of America have a duty to perform, a duty stern and delicate, -- a forward movement to oppose a part of the work of their greatest leader. So far as Mr. Washington peaches

W. E. B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington were both highly intelligent African American men who wrote about the disparities between the lives of whites and blacks in the United States during the nineteenth and into the twentieth centuries. Each man saw the way in which his fellow African Americans were being treated by the white majority and used their intelligence and persuasive skills to bring attention to this very serious issue. Both men fought for equality through nonviolent protest and the application of logical argument and reasoning in order to better their lives and those of their social and ethnic brothers. Despite their shared goal of racial and sociological equality, the two men had very different ideas about how equality would be achieved and about what the African American community should or ought to expect in terms of actually obtaining that equality.

W.E.B. DuBois, a black intellectual believed that Washington's strategy would only serve to perpetuate white oppression. DuBois initially advocated for Washington's strategy, however he grew to find it unacceptable as he became more outspoken about racial injustice. DuBois campaigned for a civil rights agenda and argued that educated blacks could accomplish social change. With the belief that African Americans should work together to battle inequality DuBois helped found the NAACP. DuBois was not content with attempting to gain an economic foothold; he wanted absolute equality in all aspects of life. DuBois believed that Washington "devalued the study of liberal arts, and ignored the economic exploitation of the black masses. He believed that "The Negro Race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education then, among Negroes, must first of all deal with the ‘Talented Tenth.' [which] is the problem of developing the best of this race that they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the worst." He believed that the economic and political issues facing African Americans could be solved if the most talented ten

The second quotes that stands out to me from W.E.B Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk (1903) from page 418 “Few know of these problems, few who know notice them; and yet there are awaiting student, artist, and seer, a field for somebody sometime to discover”. This quote is trying to say that they know the problem is going on and they don’t want to do nothing about because they are waiting for somebody to come and show them what to do, but some of them already figure out what to do. “In the Black World, the Preacher and Teacher embodied once the ideals of this people, the strife for another and a juster world, the vague dream of righteousness, the mystery of knowing; but today the danger is that these ideals, with their simple beauty and weir

Dr. W. E. B. DuBois was known as an African American hero who truly believed that a person's vocational calling should be dictated by ability and choice, not by race. DuBois, unlike Booker T. Washington, not only demanded an immediate change but also drastic change, and was not afraid to challenge both blacks and whites on social and educational issues to accomplish change because he knew at that point, something needed to happen now. His strong activism and courage set the stage for future changes in the African American and White American race relations.

African-Americans in the 1920’s lived in a period of tension. No longer slaves, they were still not looked upon as equals by whites. However, movements such as the Harlem renaissance, as well as several African-American leaders who rose to power during this period, sought to bring the race to new heights. One of these leaders was W.E.B. DuBois, who believed that education was the solution to the race problem. The beliefs of W.E.B. DuBois, as influenced by his background, had a profound effect on his life work, including the organizations he was involved with and the type of people he attracted. His background strongly influenced the way he attacked the "Negro Problem." His

The Influence of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois on the Writings from the Harlem Renaissance

The Crisis was a magazine that W.E.B DuBois created in 1910 and it was also the official magazine of the NAACP. DuBois was not only the founder of this magazine, but he was also the editor. The targeted audience of this magazine was the African American community. At this point in time a magazine that was ran by Black people and for Black people was unheard of. The purpose of this magazine was to shine light on who and what the Black community was, to create an outlet where Black scholars could share their work, and it was a source where Black people could get useful information (the information was tailored to the Black community’s needs) from trusted sources. The magazine became very influential, at its peak the magazine had 100,000 readers

Pioneer in the struggle for Afro-American liberation and for African liberation, prolific black scholar, W.E.B. DuBois (1868 - 1963) was one of the giants of the twentieth century. (Foner, flap text)

William Edward Burghardt DuBois was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts in 1868 to his Dutch and African descent mother, Mary Silvina Burghardt and father Alfred Dubois born to Bahamian mulatto slaves. Mary Silvina was left to raise young William with only the help of her extended Burghardt family after Alfred Dubois abandoned his family. Although, this was a hardship in Du Bois 's early life he was fortunate enough to be born and live as a free black man in a small town of Massachusetts where a very little percentage of the town was black. Race was a very visible distinction that represented a great deal of difference of treatment which affected DuBois immensely. His concern for racism grew through the years and became a bitterness that he would carry with him for the rest of his life.

African Americans during the 1900s lived lives full of uncertainty. They were no longer slaves, but still looked upon by many as inferior to the white race. However in this period of tension, there were men who sought to bring their race to new heights. One of these men was W.E.B Du Bois. Few have influenced the lives of African Americans in such a way as W.E.B Du Bois. The vision he had for African Americans was one that many found great hope in. He sought for the day that his race for finally have civil equality in every aspect of life.

“There is no force equal to a women determined to rise” –W.E.B Dubois. Throughout most of my life, I have always hated the idea that women can’t achieve everything they set their mind for. In Muslim Society, women are entitled to be housewife, to stay at home, and serve a man. When a Muslim Women has a child, she is the only one who takes care of it and the dad’s job is to support financially the child. Women are not seeing their worth, girls end up not finishing their high school years for them to able to learn how to cook, wash, and serve. Although many people may think we are on 21st century and these problems are ending 10% of Panamanian Muslim Women have a job and 5% have a college degree. Women should be able to learn,