Journal for W. E. B. Du Bois (E.C.)

Francesca Cricchio
Journal for Du Bois
English 48B
March, 2011

“Freedom, too, the long-sought, we still seek,- the freedom of life and limb, the freedom to work and think, the freedom to love and aspire. Work, culture, liberty,- all these we need, not singly but together, not sucessively, but together, each growing and aiding each, and all striving for that vaster ideal that swims before the Negro people, the ideal of human brotherhood, gained through the unifying ideal of Race” (900).

“Although Du Bois had originally believed that social science could provide the knowledge to solve the race problem, he gradually came to the conclusion that in a climate of virulent racism, expressed in such evils as lynching, peonage, disfranchisement, Jim Crow segregation laws, and race riots, social change could be accomplished only through agitation and protest. In this view, he clashed with the most influential black leader of the period, Booker T. Washington, who, preaching a philosophy of accommodation, urged blacks to accept discrimination for the time being and elevate themselves through hard work and economic gain, thus winning the respect of the whites.” (Biography of Du Bois from Biography.com).

This is a piece of African American literature that addresses the problem of the “color line” (894) Du Bois also talks about “double-consciousness” which is “looking at ones self through the eyes of others”. This theory became an important term when relating to race in America. In Du Bois’ text, he argues against Booker T. Washington’s approach to race relations. Du Bois thinks that Washington is too accepting of segregation between races and argues that the focus should be on equality, the right to vote, and education of youth. Du Bois’ proposal of race advancement differs from Washington’s preachings because it strives for more than material success. He preaches ideals that concentrate on African American equality with the rest of the world.

What Du Bois hypothesized was inspiring because it was beyond the ideals of the time. Many African American advocates back then were focusing on gaining any right, but Du Bois was different because “settling” was not in his vocabulary. He was aware of his difference with the rest of society, and he used his individuality to his advantage by becoming a role model for African Americans. He was privileged when he was younger and got a higher education and this knowledge he obtained helped him view that world in a different way. He got to experience life of the elite and instead of staying in that society with no opposition, he preached to the lower-class and fought to give all African Americans the same opportunities he received. His theory was that this could be accomplished by choosing a select amount of individuals who would be educated to the fullest, and then use their education to become liaisons for race relations, as well as equal contributors to society as a whole. I admire his dedication to conquering equal rights, and his willingness to stand out amongst the rest of the world.