W. E. B. Du Bois

W. E. B. Du Bois[2†]

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, known as W. E. B. Du Bois, was an American sociologist, historian, author, editor, and activist[1†][2†]. He was born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S., and died on August 27, 1963, in Accra, Ghana[1†][2†]. Du Bois was the most important Black protest leader in the United States during the first half of the 20th century[1†]. His collection of essays, “The Souls of Black Folk” (1903), is a landmark of African American literature[1†].

Early Years and Education

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S[1†][2†]. He grew up in a relatively tolerant and integrated community[1†][2†]. His early years in Massachusetts had a profound influence on his life and career[1†][2†].

Du Bois pursued his education with a passion. He graduated from Fisk University, a historically Black institution in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1888[1†][3†]. His time at Fisk University was transformative, exposing him to the harsh realities of racial discrimination in the South[1†][3†].

He furthered his education at Harvard University, where he was the first African American to earn a doctorate[1†][2†][4†]. His doctoral dissertation, “The Suppression of the African Slave-Trade to the United States of America, 1638–1870,” was published in 1896[1†]. This work marked the beginning of his prolific writing career[1†].

After completing his graduate work at Harvard, Du Bois studied at Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin[1†][2†]. His time in Germany further broadened his perspective, exposing him to new ideas and ways of thinking[1†][2†].

Du Bois’s early education and experiences shaped his intellectual pursuits and commitment to the fight for racial equality[1†][2†]. His academic achievements were groundbreaking and set the stage for his future contributions as a scholar, writer, and civil rights activist[1†][2†].

Career Development and Achievements

W. E. B. Du Bois was a pioneering sociologist, historian, author, editor, and activist[1†][5†]. His career was marked by a deep commitment to fighting for the civil rights of African Americans[1†][5†].

After earning his doctorate from Harvard University, Du Bois accepted a research job at the University of Pennsylvania[1†][5†]. Here, he conducted personal interviews and combined his data with census data to analyze the social and economic conditions of African Americans in Philadelphia[1†][5†]. This work laid the foundation for his first major academic work, “The Philadelphia Negro”, published in 1899[1†][5†]. This was the first scientific, statistically-based social science study in the U.S., and the first case study of a black community in the United States[1†][5†].

Du Bois was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909[1†][5†]. He used his position in the NAACP to respond to racist incidents[1†][5†]. He also edited The Crisis, its magazine, from 1910 to 1934[1†][5†].

His collection of essays, “The Souls of Black Folk” (1903), is a landmark of African American literature[1†][5†]. In this work, he explored and defined some of the key themes of the African-American experience, including his famous concept of “double-consciousness”[1†][5†].

Du Bois was a leading Pan-Africanist and helped organize several Pan-African Congresses to fight for the independence of African colonies from European powers[1†][5†]. His writings primarily targeted racism, protesting strongly against lynching, Jim Crow laws, and discrimination in education and employment[1†][5†].

Later in his life, Du Bois became an activist for peace and opposed nuclear weapons, which made him a target of FBI harassment[1†][6†].

Du Bois’s career was marked by groundbreaking academic achievements and a lifelong commitment to the fight for racial equality[1†][5†]. His contributions to sociology, literature, and civil rights activism have left a lasting legacy[1†][5†].

First Publication of His Main Works

W. E. B. Du Bois was a prolific author who made significant contributions to literature and academic discourse. Here are some of his main works:

• The Philadelphia Negro 1899: This was the first scientific, statistically-based social science study in the U.S., and the first case study of a black community in the United States[1†][5†].
• The Suppression of the African Slave-Trade to the United States 1638–1870: This was Du Bois’s doctoral dissertation at Harvard University. It was published in 1896 and is a comprehensive examination of the transatlantic slave trade[1†][2†][7†].
• The Souls of Black Folk (1903): This collection of essays is a seminal work in African American literature. In it, Du Bois explores the concept of “double consciousness”, a term he used to describe the experience of living as a Black person in a White-dominated society[1†][2†][8†][7†].
• Black Reconstruction in America (1935): This magnum opus challenged the prevailing orthodoxy that Blacks were responsible for the failures of the Reconstruction era. Du Bois argued that Black people had been active agents in the fight for their own liberation[1†][2†][7†].
• Dusk of Dawn (1940): This autobiographical work outlines Du Bois’s personal experiences with racism and his involvement in the civil rights movement[1†][2†][8†][7†].

Each of these works had a profound impact on the discourse around race, civil rights, and Black history in America. They continue to be widely read and studied for their insightful and incisive analysis of race relations[1†][2†][8†][7†].

Analysis and Evaluation

W. E. B. Du Bois’s work has had a profound impact on sociology, criminology, and the discourse around race relations in America[9†][10†][11†][12†].

Du Bois was the first sociologist in the field of African-American studies to use experiment and observation as a basis of his research[9†]. His program for a scientific study of blacks was finally undertaken by Atlanta University[9†]. In 1897, Du Bois believed that the scientific study of his people—the gathering of knowledge of their past and present—was of paramount importance[9†].

His theories on crime linked the social environment, not race or biology, to rates of crime[9†][10†]. Du Bois analyzed how racist social and economic exclusion of Black communities led to crime[9†][10†]. His criminological theories of social disharmony and racial injustice also consider the social construction of crime and the criminalization of Blackness where social disorganization does not[9†][10†].

The evaluation of W.E.B Du Bois’s studies brings out social and intellectual initiatives especially his color line concept and its role to the history of African Americans[9†][12†]. The color line concept is the role of racism and race in society and history[9†][12†].

Du Bois’s classic, The Souls of Black Folk, is a multidimensional text that resists classification because it contains a history of post-Civil War race relations, sociological and economical analyses, a discussion of black education, a comparative study of European American and African American cultures, a short story about a character named John Jones, and a commentary on the transformative power of “sorrow songs,” or Negro spirituals, which for Du Bois are expressions of soul at the heart of African American culture[9†][13†].

Personal Life

W. E. B. Du Bois was married twice in his lifetime[2†]. His first marriage was to Nina Gomer in 1896, and they had two children together[2†]. Their union lasted until Gomer’s death in 1950[2†]. Following Gomer’s passing, Du Bois married Lola Shirley Graham Jr. in 1951[2†].

Despite his extensive work in the public sphere, Du Bois also maintained a rich personal life. He was known for his intellectual curiosity and was deeply committed to his family[2†][1†]. His personal philosophy was deeply intertwined with his sociopolitical beliefs, and he was known for his dedication to the cause of racial equality[2†][1†].

Du Bois spent the last years of his life in Ghana, where he continued his work until his death in Accra on August 27, 1963[2†][1†]. His legacy continues to inspire and influence generations of scholars and activists[2†][1†].

Conclusion and Legacy

W. E. B. Du Bois’s legacy is profound and far-reaching. His work as a sociologist, scholar, educator, civil rights activist, leader, Pan-Africanist, historian, writer, editor, and poet has left an indelible mark on American society and the world at large[14†][15†].

Du Bois was a pioneering figure in the fight for racial equality. His adamant opposition to the idea of biological white superiority led him to co-found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909[14†][15†]. His work with the NAACP and his editorship of its monthly magazine, “The Crisis,” played a significant role in shaping the civil rights movement[14†][15†].

His seminal work, “The Souls of Black Folk,” remains relevant today, over a century after its publication[14†][15†]. In it, Du Bois accurately predicted that the problem of the 20th century would be the problem of the color line, a statement that unfortunately still holds true in the 21st century[14†][15†].

Despite facing marginalization by the white founders of sociology, Du Bois’s contributions to the field have been recognized and celebrated in recent years[14†]. His work has influenced countless scholars and continues to resonate in the archives of institutions like UMass Amherst and Fisk University[14†][16†].

Du Bois’s commitment to the cause of racial equality, his dedication to setting the record straight about the mastery of sociological thought, and his tireless efforts to demolish the myth of racial inferiority have cemented his place as one of the most remarkable men of our time[14†][15†].

His legacy lives on, inspiring and influencing generations of scholars, activists, and individuals committed to the cause of racial equality[14†][15†][16†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: William Edward Burghardt Du Bois[1†]
• Born: February 23, 1868, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S.[1†]
• Died: August 27, 1963, Accra, Ghana[1†]
• Nationality: American[1†]
• Occupation: Sociologist, Historian, Author, Editor, Activist[1†][17†]
• Notable Works: “The Souls of Black Folk” (1903), “Black Reconstruction: An Essay Toward a History of the Part Black Folk Played in the Attempt to Reconstruct Democracy in America, 1860–1880”, "Dusk of Dawn"[1†]
• Notable Achievements: Du Bois was the first Black man to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University[1†][6†]. He was one of the founders of the NAACP[1†][6†]. His work, particularly “The Souls of Black Folk”, is considered a landmark of African American literature[1†][17†].

References and Citations:

1. Britannica - W.E.B. Du Bois: American sociologist and social reformer [website] - link
2. Wikipedia (English) - W. E. B. Du Bois [website] - link
3. The Highland Echo - W.E.B. Du Bois and his influence on education [website] - link
4. Resilient Educator - The Educational Life of W.E.B. Du Bois [website] - link
5. Learnodo Newtonic - 10 Major Accomplishments of W. E. B. Du Bois [website] - link
6. ThoughtCo - How W.E.B. Du Bois Made His Mark on Sociology [website] - link
7. Library of America - W.E.B. Du Bois - [website] - link
8. Britannica - What did W.E.B. Du Bois write? [website] - link
9. eNotes - W. E. B. Du Bois Analysis [website] - link
10. Oxford Academic - Social Problems - Social Disharmony and Racial Injustice: W. E. B. Du Bois’s Theories on Crime [website] - link
11. University of Northern Iowa - ScholarWorks - "The unveiling of W.E.B. DuBois : A qualitative content analysis of div" by Sonja Lee Bock [website] - link
12. IPL.org - W. E. B Dubois Color Line Analysis [website] - link
13. eNotes - The Souls of Black Folk Critical Essays [website] - link
14. UC Press Blog - The Legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois [website] - link
15. Good Faith Media - W.E.B. Du Bois – His Legacy of Racial Equality Lives On [website] - link
16. University of Massachusetts Amherst - W. E. B. Du Bois Center - About Du Bois [website] - link
17. History - W. E. B. Du Bois - Beliefs, Niagara Movement & NAACP [website] - link