W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois: Scholar, Writer, and Civil Rights Pioneer
By Max Rosa and Rosemary Phrir
W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963), an influential scholar, writer, and civil rights pioneer, was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Raised by his mother after his father abandoned the family, Du Bois excelled academically, becoming the first African American to graduate from Great Barrington's racially integrated high school. His early intellectual development was nurtured by mentors, including his high school principal, and Du Bois contributed articles to regional and black-owned newspapers. He later attended Fisk University, where he was exposed to southern racism and African American culture, an experience that significantly shaped his later work.
Du Bois continued his education at Harvard University, earning a BA, MA, and PhD. Influenced by German intellectual traditions and the teachings of prominent scholars like William James, he developed a deep understanding of race and its societal implications. Du Bois' work in sociology became foundational, particularly with his landmark study The Philadelphia Negro (1899), which combined empirical research with a strong political message. His early intellectual contributions also included The Souls of Black Folk (1903), where he famously introduced the concept of "double consciousness" to explain the African American experience of living in two worlds: black and American.
Du Bois' life and work were heavily shaped by his opposition to Booker T. Washington's philosophy of racial accommodation. Du Bois initially supported some aspects of Washington's work, but their relationship became increasingly strained. In 1905, Du Bois co-founded the Niagara Movement, advocating for civil rights and an end to segregation. This movement was an important precursor to the creation of the NAACP in 1909, an organization that would become Du Bois' primary platform for his activism. As editor of The Crisis, the NAACP's magazine, Du Bois shaped public opinion and pushed for legal, social, and political change for African Americans.
Throughout his career, Du Bois also championed Pan-Africanism, advocating for the unity of people of African descent worldwide. He attended multiple Pan-African congresses, where he discussed the plight of African colonies and promoted African independence. Du Bois' views on race were further influenced by global events, including World War I, and his involvement in the war effort, which led him to write Close Ranks, urging African Americans to support the war. He also deepened his engagement with Marxism and Freudian thought during the 1920s, challenging the NAACP's more conventional approach to racism and shifting toward a more radical critique of global racial inequalities.
In his later years, Du Bois’ views continued to evolve, particularly in the wake of the Great Depression and his growing engagement with leftist political ideologies. His leadership in the NAACP diminished, but his work remained influential in the civil rights movement. Du Bois' legacy is marked by his unwavering commitment to racial equality, intellectual rigor, and the power of organized resistance. His work laid the groundwork for future generations of activists and scholars, ensuring his place as one of the most significant figures in American history.
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