The Souls Of Black Folk

The Souls of Black Folk
by
W.E.B. Du Bois

Du Bois was one of those people who studied and learned a lot of things about the world, a lot of things
that he found to be extremely unjust. This became his source of energy for becoming an intellectual guide
for America, warning it of "the 20th century color problem" and suggesting sound and rational courses of
action for the country to take. His contention was expressed lyrically and with passion in The Souls of
Black Folk that he wrote in 1903. His main philosophy was that an educated black elite should lead blacks
to liberation. This deviated sharply with the emphasis by Booker T. Washington that industrial training for
blacks and virtual silence on the questions of social and political equality. Washington’s ideas fitted well
with the views of many conservative whites but were opposed by many black leaders, among them Du
Bois.
While writing The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois declared that "the problem of the Twentieth Century is
the problem of the color line"--and predicted the racial conflicts that continue to plague our society. As up
and coming spokesperson for the African-Americans in the early 1900’s in the age of white dominance,
Du Bois urged the establishment of an "all-black party" and preached the need for black "conscious self-
realization" and for the separate autonomy of the black community. At the same time he stressed the white
man's responsibility for correcting racial inequality and...

The Souls Of Black Folk

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