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Of Spiritual Strivings By W. E. B. Du Bois

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In the essay , Of Spiritual Strivings authored by one W.E.B Du Bois, Du Bois affirms that during this period of time in America, African American men are " treated like a problem." From birth, African Americans are invariably stigmatized and out-casted by the "white folk." So much so, that their perceived problematic nature becomes a part of one's being. Du Bois states, "being a problem is a strange experience--peculiar even for one who has never been anything else... I [was] different from the others; or like, mayhap, in heart and life and longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil." (Du Bois, 1903) Through this assertion, Du Bois explains the universal strife that affects African Americans. Reiterating that from birth, African Americans are regarded as a problem, never knowing any different in life. He then continues to explain that as an African American boy, Du Bois is regarded with contempt by his Caucasian peers. Though he is the same in anatomy, in passion, in aspirations and in affairs of the heart, as his classmates, the color of his skin created a barrier, or "veil," between him and his fellow students. Du Bois was no longer treated as a human or as an individual, but rather he was deemed a member of an indistinguishable, inferior group that is unworthy of holding a comparison to his Caucasion classmates. …show more content…

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Du Bois is making it seem like America is a person that mistreats African Americans. His question is rhetorical. America wouldn’t be poorer if she treated African

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In the analysis of the abundance of wonderful leaders who made a difference in the African American community since emancipation, W.E.B Du Bois made a special impact to advance the world. From founding the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, to his influential book The Souls of Black Folk, he always found an accurate yet abstract way of verbalizing the strives of African Americans as well as making platforms for them to be known. Although he had less power than most of the bigger named African American leaders of his time, W.E.B Dubois’ overweighing strengths verses weaknesses, accurate and creative analogies, leadership style, and the successful foundations he stood for demonstrates his ability to be both realistic and accurate in his assessment since emancipation. Though Du Bois did have a beneficial impact

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It was commonly conceived by white people that African culture is inferior to their own. Du Bois later claims, “the sense of identity thrust upon black Americans living in a world in which white political and economic leaders assumed that to be American was to be white.”

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Dr. W.E.B Du Bois uses this essay to sway the audience of the insufficiency of the statements that Mr. Booker T. Washington has made about African Americans being submissive of rights and the creation of wealth. Mr. Washington believes that the black race should give up and give into what the society norms were at that time sequentially just to have a certain right. Dr. Du Bois refused to believe that the black race should give up one right to get another right. Especially, when the white South had all rights without expecting to give up anything to have those rights.

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As mentioned earlier, Du Bois most prominently stressed education as a means to earn political power. Du Bois argued that political power could be accumulated through social change facilitated by the Talented Tenth (Painter, 155). In other words, Du Bois thought it was important for the most educated African Americans to lead the masses of the African American race out of oppression. Thus, W.E.B Du Bois stressed the importance of education and political action above all

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DuBois’s first post-dissertation book, The Philadelphia Negro, released in 1899, determined that housing and employment discrimination were the principal barriers to racial equality and black prosperity in the urban North. (blackpast.org/aah/dubois-william-edward-burghardt-1868-1963) In his written book, The Souls of Black Folks, released in 1903, he argued for "manly" and "ceaseless agitation and insistent demand for equality” which demanded a education of equality for blacks that’s not inferior to whites. (W. E. B. Du Bois and the NAACP, Virginia Historical Society) Du Bois promoted the idea of self improvement, without giving up full citizenship rights, which impacted the general well being of African American and visualized the idea of having an exclusive group of all black, educated leaders called “The

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I have done some research on all the groups available at your unique and extraordinary campus. There are many groups that I intend to participate in and contribute to. After reading about all the choices I was very intrigued by the COW 4 Kids organization. This organization and what they are about is very important to me. I have learned that they care for abused children and look to improve their home and school life by fostering and or adoption.

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Although there may be times when you come across races and have a racist experience; it is not an ongoing thing all the time anymore. W.E.B DuBois is explaining clearly as day how racially profiled America used to be. For example, he states “It decrees that it shall not be possible in travel nor residence, work nor play, education nor instruction for a black man to exist without…acknowledgment…to the dirtiest white dog.” This goes to show how much control whites had over black people in America before today, specifically during 1919. DuBois is using this statement to express how blacks cannot have housing, cannot work, cannot travel, or even have an education without being seen as being beneath the white man.

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Du Bois take on the Color Line Question: Class and Race in the Globalization Age William Edward Burghardt Dubois born in 1868 and died in 1963 was a Black American academic, activist for peace and civil rights, and socialist who wrote about sociology, philosophy, race equality, history and education. 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 (Butler, 2000). The color line concept is the role of racism and race in society and history. However, an analysis that is multidimensional which finds and evaluates the intersection of race together with class as modes of resistance and domination on national and international

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The early twentieth century was not a pleasant time for African Americans; they didn’t have many rights and they lost any gain that they made from their huge positive influence in the Civil War. Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois both saw all the issues that African Americans faced, and they both had the same goal: success for blacks in America. Washington’s approach was to accept the social inequality but in return get equal economics as whites. Du Bois wanted a more aggressive approach and wanted both social and economic equality, and he was hostile towards Washington because he didn’t demand social equality. In the time period, African Americans who demanded their social and economic rights sided with Du Bois because he would provide them the leadership to gain rights equal to whites.

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Du Bois described them as hopeless, voiceless, humiliated, disrespected, and ridicule and how society was too focused on politics and wealth. “Would America go poor if white people acknowledge black folk are human beings like any other?”

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The ongoing problem of discrimination due to appearance has affected many, specifically black people. One of the most unusual things with no point or definition. This prejudice against black people has caused much unification within the United States. The lives of these black people have been severely affected, as it has affected their acts, appearances, and ways of life. As Brent Staples explains in his essay “Black Men and Public Space,” black people deal with many problems, from discrimination, and he explains these points in an orderly manner and each very thoroughly.

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Du Bois' opinion, should strive for equality rather than be satisfied with being inferior. Du Bois thought that submitting to civil inferiority would ultimately lead to the annihilation of their race. According to Du Bois, embracing a lower status would roll back any strides achieved toward racial equality. Du Bois argued that by voluntarily reneging on rights, one is guaranteed to do so. This is what he says to make it crystal apparent that accepting lesser position for the time being demonstrates that unfair treatment is acceptable, ruining any chance for growth.

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In Du Bois’ the Problem of the Color Line at the Turn of the 20th Century, he gives context that places the prejudice of America on a scale, he states, “This fissure between white and black is not everywhere of the same width. Naturally it is the widest in the former slave states and narrowest in the older and more cultivated east. It seldom, however, wholly closes up in New England, while it is threatening width in the south is the Negro Problem,” (Du Bois, 35). The color line in this sense is the fissure of the whites and blacks. The greatest depth of the line is that closest in the heart of the south.

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