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Who Was W.E.B. Du Bois?
W.E.B. Du Bois was a distinguished scholar and activist who made significant contributions to the struggle for African American rights in the United States. In 1895, he became the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. His extensive writings and advocacy established him as a leading voice for civil rights during the first half of the 20th century. In 1909, Du Bois co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which played a pivotal role in the fight against racial discrimination.
Early Life and Education
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Growing up in a predominantly white community, he identified as mulatto and benefited from the support of his white teachers, who encouraged his academic pursuits.
In 1885, Du Bois relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend Fisk University, where he first encountered the harsh realities of Jim Crow laws. This experience prompted him to analyze the deep-seated issues of American racism.
After obtaining his bachelor’s degree from Fisk, Du Bois pursued further education at Harvard University, financing his studies through summer jobs, scholarships, and loans from friends. Following the completion of his master’s degree, he was selected for a study-abroad program at the University of Berlin.
During his time in Germany, Du Bois studied under some of the leading social scientists of the era and was exposed to various political perspectives that he would advocate for throughout his life.
Harvard Ph.D.
In 1895, Du Bois made history by becoming the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He later enrolled as a doctoral student at Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität (now known as Humboldt-Universität). In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Humboldt in 1958.
Writing and Activism
Du Bois published his groundbreaking study, The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study, in 1899, which marked the beginning of his prolific writing career. This work was the first case study of an African American community and introduced the concept of “the talented tenth,” referring to the belief that one in ten Black men could become leaders of their race. This idea would become a cornerstone of his advocacy for higher education and leadership among African Americans.
Du Bois and Booker T. Washington
While serving as a professor at Atlanta University, W.E.B. Du Bois gained national recognition for his vocal opposition to Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise.” This agreement posited that vocational education was of greater value to Black individuals than social advantages such as higher education or political office.
Du Bois criticized Washington for failing to advocate for full equality for African Americans, a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment. He contended that Washington’s approach represented a substandard strategy, and he emerged as a prominent advocate for comprehensive civil rights across all aspects of life.
‘The Souls of Black Folk’
In 1903, Du Bois published his seminal work, The Souls of Black Folk, a collection of 14 essays that profoundly addressed the African American experience. In the years that followed, he consistently challenged the notion of biological white superiority and actively championed women’s rights.
In 1909, Du Bois co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and took on the role of editor for its monthly magazine, The Crisis.
Pan-Africanism
As a proponent of Pan-Africanism, Du Bois played a significant role in organizing several Pan-African Congresses aimed at liberating African colonies from European colonial rule.
Death
Du Bois passed away on August 27, 1963, in Accra, Ghana, at the age of 95. Notably, his death occurred just one day before Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington. At the time of his death, Du Bois was engaged in compiling an encyclopedia of the African Diaspora.