The Souls of Black Folk'The problem of the twentieth-century is the problem of the color-line.' Originally published in 1903, The Souls of Black Folk is a classic study of race, culture, and education at the turn of the twentieth century. With its singular combination of essays, memoir, and fiction, this book vaulted W. E. B. Du Bois to the forefront of American political commentary and civil rights activism. The Souls of Black Folk is an impassioned, at times searing account of the situation of African Americans in the United States. Du Bois makes a forceful case for the access of African Americans to higher education, memorably extols the achievements of black culture (above all the spirituals or 'sorrow songs'), and advances the provocative and influential argument that due to the inequalities and pressures of the 'race problem', African American identity is characterized by 'double consciousness'. This edition includes a valuable appendix of other writing by Du Bois, which sheds light on his attitudes and intentions. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. |
Contents
The Conservation of Races | 179 |
The Talented Tenth | 189 |
SelfReview and Fifty Years After | 206 |
Explanatory Notes | 209 |
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Common terms and phrases
African American Atlanta better blood Bois born brown Bureau called cent century Chapter church civilization close color comes common cotton culture dark differences dollars economic eyes face father feeling follows force freedmen freedom give graduates half hands hard heart higher human hundred ideals ignorant industrial institutions John laborers land leaders less living looked March mass master means millions mother natural Negro never North organization passed past perhaps political present problem published question race schools seemed shadow slave slavery social songs Souls Souls of Black South Southern spiritual striving teach teachers things thought thousand to-day true turned United University Veil voice Washington whole York young