W.E.B. DuBois

Early Years

Born on February 23, 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was a brilliant African American scholar, teacher, historian, and social critic. He was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Influences

Du Bois was heavily influenced by the writings of Frederick Douglass, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. He was also inspired by the abolitionist movement and the struggle for black liberation in the United States.

Du Bois was a student of the great philosopher William James, who greatly influenced his writing and thinking. Through his studies with James, Du Bois was exposed to a wide variety of philosophical ideas and theories that shaped his thinking and writing.

Career

Du Bois was a professor of history and sociology at Atlanta University and later at Fisk University. He was a founding member of the NAACP, where he served as the editor of The Crisis, the organizations monthly magazine.

Talented Tenth

The Talented Tenth proposal was a plan proposed by W.E.B. Du Bois to advance the cause of civil rights for African Americans. The idea was that if African Americans had access to higher education, they could become leaders in their communities and lead the fight for racial equality. The proposal argued that a select group of socially and educated African Americans, the Talented Tenth, would be the vanguard for change and progress. This group would serve as role models for the African American community, encouraging and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. The proposal also argued for the importance of racial solidarity and advocated for the advancement of social justice.

Philosophy and Opinion

W.E.B. Du Bois was a passionate advocate for the power of education and self-improvement, believing that African Americans should strive to be the very best that they could be. He also championed the cause of racial solidarity, recognizing the importance of standing together as a community in order to advance social justice. He held that education would be the key to unlocking greater opportunities for African Americans, and he encouraged them to make the most of the education they had access to, believing that it would be the foundation upon which they could build a better future.

Booker T. Washington and the Atlanta Compromise

Du Bois and Booker T. Washington had different views on how African Americans should achieve racial equality. While Washington advocated for a more gradual approach, Du Bois argued for a more direct and confrontational approach. He was critical of Washington's Atlanta Compromise, which he believed perpetuated the status quo of racial inequality.

Author

Du Bois was a brilliant thinker and a passionate advocate for civil rights. He was a powerful orator and had a deep understanding of the challenges facing African Americans. He was also a talented writer. He wrote over 20 books, including:

• The Souls of Black Folk
• Black Reconstruction in America
• The Philadelphia Negro
• The Negro
• Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil
• Dusk of Dawn: An Essay Toward an Autobiography of a Race Concept

Legacy

Du Bois is remembered as one of the most influential African American intellectuals of the twentieth century. He was an important leader in the civil rights movement and his work has had a lasting impact on African American history and culture.

Conclusion

W.E.B. Du Bois is remembered as one of the most influential African American intellectuals of the twentieth century. His writings and advocacy for civil rights have had a lasting impact on African American history and culture. He was a passionate teacher and a powerful orator who believed in the power of education and self-improvement.

"It is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate" - George Burns

"Education must not simply teach work - it must teach life" - W.E.B. Du Bois

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" - Martin Luther King Jr.

‍