W.E.b Du bois

1. W.E.b Du bois By. Cherita Robinson

2. William Edward Burghardt Du Bois • Born February 23, 1868 • Died August 27, 1963 • American Sociologist • Most important black protest leader of the 20th century • Shared in the creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

3. Early Career • Graduated from Fisk University in 1888 • Black institute in Nashville, Tennessee • Received a Ph.D. from Harvard in 1895 • Doctoral dissertation: The Suppression of the African Slave-Trade to the United States of America, 1638-1870 • Devoted himself to sociological investigations of blacks in America • Produced 16 research monographs published between 1897 and 1914 at Atlanta University • The Philadelphia Negro; A Social Study, was the first case study of a black community in the United States

4. Early Career Cont. • Du Bois thought social science could provide knowledge to solve race problem • He later concluded social change could be accomplished through agitation and protest • This view came to clash with Booker T Washington; he preached philosophy and accommodation • In 1905, Bu Bois took the lead in the Niagara Movement; which was dedicated to attacking the platform of Booker T. Washington

6. The Souls of Black Folk • One ever feels his twoness—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two reconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.…He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity closed roughly in his face.

7. Black Nationalism and Socialism • Du Bois’s black nationalism took several forms • Pioneering of Pan-Africanism • Belief that all people of African descent had common interests and should work together in the struggle of their freedom • He encouraged the development of black literature and art. He urged his readers to see “Beauty in Black” • He also believed blacks should develop a separate “group economy” of producers’ and consumers’ cooperatives as a weapon for fighting economic discrimination and black poverty

8. Black Nationalism and Socialism Cont. • In 1934 Du Bois left the NAACP • But by 1905 he had been drawn toward social doctrines • In 1912 Du Bois joined the Social Party briefly • He then returned to Atlanta university and taught for 10 years • There he founded the magazine Phylon, Atlanta university’s “Review on race and Culture’

9. W.E.B Du Bois the later years • After a decade at Atlanta University, Du Bois returned to a research position at the NAACP 1944-1948 • He then came to identify with pro-Russian causes and was: • Indicted in 1951 as an unregistered agent for a foreign power • Although he was acquitted, Du Bois became disillusioned with the United States • In 1961 Du Bois joined the Communist party and moved to Ghana, renouncing his American citizenship

10. References • http://www.biography.com/articles/W.E.B.-Du-Bois-9279924?part=1 • http://www.gale.cengage.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/dubois_w.htm