Before TheYBF, before NecoleBitchie, before Concreteloop, and before your blog or mine, there was a man named William Edward Burghardt DuBois and The Souls of Black Folks. Part study, part reflection, and part poetry, W.E.B. DuBois' book is still looked at today as one of the most popular criticisms of race relations in America. (To put it plain and simple, DuBois was a baaaaad man when it came to writing stuff that people read and respected.)
He is primarily remembered today for being the first African-American to earn a PhD from Harvard (in 1895). Through his books, lectures, and publishing of magazines, Du Bois educated both blacks & whites on topics not otherwise discussed like the injustices suffered by colored folks. He researched and wrote extensively on lynchings, segregation, and black peoples' experiences with racism.
W.E.B. DuBois butted heads with the US government several times over his proposed solutions for improving injustice (namely Socialism), causing him to be put on trial for being "an agent for the Soviet Union" (where the heck do people come up with this nonsense? He was supposed to be the black James Bond, huh? Oh ok.)
Anywho....
His battles with the U.S. government laid the foundation for things such as the civil rights and the black power movements. In 1961 Du Bois moved to the newly independent West African nation of Ghana. In an act of defiance just before his departure, he joined the American Communist Party. Du Bois became a citizen of the West African nation of Ghana in 1963, when he was 95 years old.
The End.
Trey "Dub". 23.
Small-town gent'. UNC alum.
2 comments:
He was an astounding sociologist and African American Martyr. Although he was inconsiderate to other intellectuals, this mans intellect, observations and ability to convey his thoughts elaborately were unparalleled.
speak on it! lol
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