The Souls of Black Folk by William E. B. Du Bois

“Few books make history and fewer still become the foundational texts for the movements and struggles of an entire people....” One such great work was The Souls of Black Folk by William EB Du Bois. Published in 1903, it is a powerful and hard-hitting view of sociology, race and American history. It became the cornerstone of the civil rights movement and when Du Bois attended the first National Negro Conference in 1909, he was already well-known as a proponent of full and unconditional equality for African Americans. In the following year, he became one of the co-founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In fact, the word “colored” was suggested by Du Bois instead of “black” to include people of color everywhere in the world. Du Bois was appointed Director of Publicity and Research of the NAACP and his main duty was to edit and bring out NAACP's monthly journal The Crisis. The journal also served as a vehicle for his thoughts on socialism, black activism, unionization, inter-racial marriage, women's rights and combating racism in all spheres of life. The Souls of Black Folk is a series of essays on different subjects. The theories and ideas contained in it went on to become the key concepts that guided strategy and programs for civil rights protests in America. In this work, Du Bois discards Booker T Washington's concepts of “accommodation” of white supremacy and propounds that this would only lead to further oppression of African Americans. He also felt that human rights are to be enjoyed by all and neither “given” not “taken” and it is below a human being's dignity to beg for rights. The publication of this book had an immediate and devastating effect in that it polarized the movement into two distinctly different groups. The more conservative and less confrontational approach advocated by Washington was rejected by those who found Du Bois' more aggressive ideas better suited to their thinking. The writing style is extremely lyrical and poetic, with interesting turns of phrase. The ideas are thought provoking and stimulating, while presenting the reader with little known facts about African American history and sociology. Du Bois talks eloquently about “double consciousness,” the awareness that African Americans experience as citizens of America and also as a race apart. Du Bois speaks confidently as a proud American but also as one who is supremely conscious of the ills that plague American society. The Souls of Black Folk is an important historical document that provides great insights into the building of America as a nation.

01 – The Forethought & Chapter 1 – Of Our Spiritual Strivings

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

01-02
25:57

02 – Chapter 2 – Of the Dawn of Freedom, part 1

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

01-01
24:50

03 – Chapter 2 – Of the Dawn of Freedom, part 2

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-31
23:20

04 – Chapter 3 – Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-30
33:23

05 – Chapter 4 – Of the Meaning of Progress

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-29
25:38

06 – Chapter 5 – Of the Wings of Atalanta

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-28
23:18

07 – Chapter 6 – Of the Training of Black Men

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-27
36:23

08 – Chapter 7 – Of the Black Belt, part 1

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-26
26:48

09 – Chapter 7 – Of the Black Belt, part 2

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-25
18:41

10 – Chapter 8 – Of the Quest of the Golden Fleece, part 1

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-24
26:35

11 – Chapter 8 – Of the Quest of the Golden Fleece, part 2

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-23
26:21

12 – Chapter 9 – Of the Sons of Master and Man, part 1

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-22
24:34

13 – Chapter 9 – Of the Sons of Master and Man, part 2

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-21
19:40

14 – Chapter 10 – Of the Faith of the Fathers

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-20
35:26

15 – Chapter 11 – Of the Passing of the First-Born

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-19
18:14

16 – Chapter 12 – Of Alexander Crummell

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-18
25:45

17 – Chapter 13 – Of the Coming of John

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-17
37:53

18 – Chapter 14 – Of the Sorrow Songs & Afterthought

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

12-16
26:21

Blk Blu

any1!any1? even who needed read it !

10-26 Reply

Ryan N Stephanie Bonnell

Why is this not required reading in all schools?

08-08 Reply

Alex Mercedes

libravox? libre box? libervox? please spell. I'd like to learn more about this project.

05-14 Reply

Keith Betton

It makes me so angry think about how people were cheated out of land and earning then and yes, even now.

02-22 Reply

Rayquilove Dreamlovedefine

wow thank you

12-27 Reply

08-30

06-12

Recommend Channels