The Souls of Black Folk: With the Talented Tenth and the Souls of White Folk
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- Author：W.E.B. Du Bois
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Summary
A collectible hardcover edition of the landmark book about being black in America， featuring an introduction by Ibram X。 Kendi， the New York Times bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist
A Penguin Classic
When The Souls of Black Folk was first published in 1903， it had a galvanizing effect on the conversation about race in America--and it remains both a touchstone in the literature of African America and a beacon in the fight for civil rights。 Believing that one can know the "soul" of a race by knowing the souls of individuals， W。 E。 B。 Du Bois combines history and stirring autobiography to reflect on the magnitude of American racism and to chart a path forward against oppression， and introduces the now-famous concepts of the color line， the veil， and double-consciousness。
Penguin Classics presents Penguin Vitae， loosely translated as "Penguin of one's life，" a deluxe hardcover series featuring a dynamic landscape of classic fiction and nonfiction that has shaped the course of our readers' lives。 Penguin Vitae invites readers to find themselves in a diverse world of storytellers， with beautifully designed classic editions of personal inspiration， intellectual engagement， and creative originality。
A Penguin Classic
When The Souls of Black Folk was first published in 1903， it had a galvanizing effect on the conversation about race in America--and it remains both a touchstone in the literature of African America and a beacon in the fight for civil rights。 Believing that one can know the "soul" of a race by knowing the souls of individuals， W。 E。 B。 Du Bois combines history and stirring autobiography to reflect on the magnitude of American racism and to chart a path forward against oppression， and introduces the now-famous concepts of the color line， the veil， and double-consciousness。
Penguin Classics presents Penguin Vitae， loosely translated as "Penguin of one's life，" a deluxe hardcover series featuring a dynamic landscape of classic fiction and nonfiction that has shaped the course of our readers' lives。 Penguin Vitae invites readers to find themselves in a diverse world of storytellers， with beautifully designed classic editions of personal inspiration， intellectual engagement， and creative originality。
Reviews
Gulshan B。
，
No one can review this book。 You don't review the truth。 You should read it， know it， and remember it。Du Bois was a giant among men。 His writings， his teachings， his realizations， his exhortations - are legendary。 His words ring true - sadly even today， after more than a century from when they were originally written and meant for。That his truths remain true even today is both a tribute and an insult to him。What we do with these truths will determine what our future generations think of us， and No one can review this book。 You don't review the truth。 You should read it， know it， and remember it。Du Bois was a giant among men。 His writings， his teachings， his realizations， his exhortations - are legendary。 His words ring true - sadly even today， after more than a century from when they were originally written and meant for。That his truths remain true even today is both a tribute and an insult to him。What we do with these truths will determine what our future generations think of us， and remember us as。Or don't remember us at all。 。。。more
Russell Posegate
，
DuBois writes frankly and honestly seeking progress， conciliation， understanding， and the bettering of black lives。This reads like a scholarly tract， citing research （seems original to DuBois？） and fills in for me at least the sociological conditions between reconstruction and the great migration。Each chapter starts with a snippet of music—only identified at the end。 The fictional short story “Of the coming of John” is just as powerful as anything by Colson Whitehead。
Casey Applegate
，
First and foremost， DuBois’ imagery through out the entire book is some of the best I’ve ever read from a historical work。 He doesn’t simply give you a robust， sociological understanding of the reconstruction and post reconstruction period， but paints the scene at the struggles that black Americans faced throughout the period， many of which the sociological struggles still resonate today。 I missed out on the reconstruction period in my education and for anyone who wants to understand systemic ra First and foremost， DuBois’ imagery through out the entire book is some of the best I’ve ever read from a historical work。 He doesn’t simply give you a robust， sociological understanding of the reconstruction and post reconstruction period， but paints the scene at the struggles that black Americans faced throughout the period， many of which the sociological struggles still resonate today。 I missed out on the reconstruction period in my education and for anyone who wants to understand systemic racism and how economic issues have plagued black Americans due to unresolved economic struggles and outright hostility during a period that was supposed to be dedicated on creating equity， this book is a MUST read。 。。。more
Alena
，
“This is the story of a human heart， — The tale of a black boy who many long years ago began to struggle with life that he might know the world and know himself。 Three temptations he met out on those dark dunes that lay gray and dismal before the wonder eyes of the child: The temptation of Hate， that stood out against the red dawn; the temptation of Despair， that darkened noonday; and the temptation of Doubt， that ever steals along with twilight。 Above all， you must hear of the Vales he crossed， “This is the story of a human heart， — The tale of a black boy who many long years ago began to struggle with life that he might know the world and know himself。 Three temptations he met out on those dark dunes that lay gray and dismal before the wonder eyes of the child: The temptation of Hate， that stood out against the red dawn; the temptation of Despair， that darkened noonday; and the temptation of Doubt， that ever steals along with twilight。 Above all， you must hear of the Vales he crossed， — the Valley of Humiliation and the Valley of the Shadow of Death” 。。。more
Greg
，
This great man， who lived a remarkable life of achievement and longevity， died when I was 20 at the age of 95。 I am ashamed to say that I did not read him either in college or graduate school。His writing is lyrical and powerful; so lyrical that at times he is almost weaving an Impressionist-like sketch of a scene or person; powerful because he speaks from the heart -- a human heart like we all share。In these widely different stories -- more like musings in many cases -- he tells us of the Black This great man， who lived a remarkable life of achievement and longevity， died when I was 20 at the age of 95。 I am ashamed to say that I did not read him either in college or graduate school。His writing is lyrical and powerful; so lyrical that at times he is almost weaving an Impressionist-like sketch of a scene or person; powerful because he speaks from the heart -- a human heart like we all share。In these widely different stories -- more like musings in many cases -- he tells us of the Black experience as it was known in the last half of the 19th century， when the nominally freed former slaves were nonetheless kept down through Jim Crow laws， the oppression of the Ku Klux Klan， and the general perception of their alleged mental inferiority。The cost of this "keeping 'em down” is what he explores in his stories that only begin to suggest at all of the richness of contributions those Black people might have made had they only been treated with the respect -- and given opportunities similar to those -- of white people （or， what I more accurately believe to be the case， of "pale skinned humans）。These are the kinds of stories that non-Black folks ought to be aware of as it just "might" help those who still retain centuries-old biases and prejudices to understand that under this thin envelope of skin we are ALL human beings with the same yearnings， hopes， and fears。Though written over a century ago， these stories retain their currency and power to move our hearts and stir our consciences。 。。。more
Ruth
，
This could have been written yesterday。 And many of the events described will happen again tomorrow。 Will the world ever realize that people are people and actually treat all with the respect and deference we all deserve？ Opportunities are not the entitlement of wealth， race， or religion。 Everyone deserves an opportunity。 Reading this made me angry too。 I see the ignorance of those who believe the lies of white supremacy。 Parts should be required reading by every high school student， everywhere。
Chloe
，
From the afterthought: "Hear my cry， O God the Reader; vouchsafe that this my book fall not still-born into the world-wilderness。 Let there spring， Gentle One， from out of its leaves vigor of thought and thoughtful deed to reap the harvest wonderful。 （Let the ears of a guilty people tingle with truth， and seventy millions sigh for the righteousness which exalteth nations， in this drear day when human brotherhood is mockery and a snare。） Thus in Thy good time may infinite reason turn the tangle s From the afterthought: "Hear my cry， O God the Reader; vouchsafe that this my book fall not still-born into the world-wilderness。 Let there spring， Gentle One， from out of its leaves vigor of thought and thoughtful deed to reap the harvest wonderful。 （Let the ears of a guilty people tingle with truth， and seventy millions sigh for the righteousness which exalteth nations， in this drear day when human brotherhood is mockery and a snare。） Thus in Thy good time may infinite reason turn the tangle straight， and these crooked marks on a fragile leaf be not indeed。 。。。more
Leib Mitchell
，
Floating abstractions anchored to。。。。。。。。。。。nothing at allReviewed in the United States on December 4， 2020Reviewed in the United States on July 29， 2017This book is ridiculous。The sentences read like A， B， C， D。。。。。。， but the book is so overly-abstract and incoherent that it's like if some editor came along and rearranged the sentences like D， A， C， B then there wouldn't be that much of an effect。 The prose is so babbly， that it reminds me of Joseph Conrad （Heart of Darkness （AmazonClassics Edi Floating abstractions anchored to。。。。。。。。。。。nothing at allReviewed in the United States on December 4， 2020Reviewed in the United States on July 29， 2017This book is ridiculous。The sentences read like A， B， C， D。。。。。。， but the book is so overly-abstract and incoherent that it's like if some editor came along and rearranged the sentences like D， A， C， B then there wouldn't be that much of an effect。 The prose is so babbly， that it reminds me of Joseph Conrad （Heart of Darkness （AmazonClassics Edition））， except that that book is 85 pages long and takes weeks to read and this one is over a couple of hundred pages。It also does not bother me that this book has been reviewed over 800 times。 The Willie Lynch Letter And the Making of A Slave has been reviewed 380 times and is known to be a hoax。The more things change， the more they stay the same。 It really is amazing to realize that this book was written 114 years ago， because all the same banalities are here。 （Selected sampling。）1。 Everything needs to be turned into a political issue。2。 Everything CAN BE solved through the political process。3。 Political equality is solved first and then economic/ social equality will follow。4。 College prep。 education is preferred to learning vocational skills and making things that people will pay for。There is a chapter in here thrown in on BT Washington。 I'll note that:1。 WEB DuBois outlived Washington by about 48 years and died an embittered old man in Ghana （before independence）。2。 Washington died after building something that still exists。 DuBois built nothing that exists。3。 People are still carrying the DuBois torch （again， 114 years after this series of essays was written） and politicizing everything。 And as high as the tide might lift boats in the US， they just don't manage to lift the black boats as high。Verdict: Not recommended。 I would say that you could read this to trace the history of a silly idea/ series of silly ideas， but this book is just SO HARD TO READ that it's not even worth the time that it takes。 。。。more
Jaeden Palanog
，
I like how the main characters met each other， I love the plot and everything about this book。 Good job writer！ If you have some great stories like this one， you can publish it on NovelStar， just submit your story to hardy@novelstar。top or joye@novelstar。top
Ronan Johnson
，
Today - across the pond， anyway， the trial of one Derek Chauvin begun。 With， I hope， both the world's eyes open， I think it's no better time， then， to look at what one of America's strongest minds considered just the symptom of a historic cancer within it。From "The Souls of White Folk":"Conceive this nation， of all human peoples， engaged in a crusade to make the "World Safe for Democracy"！ [。。。] In short， what is the black man but America's Belguim， and how could America condemn in Germany that Today - across the pond， anyway， the trial of one Derek Chauvin begun。 With， I hope， both the world's eyes open， I think it's no better time， then， to look at what one of America's strongest minds considered just the symptom of a historic cancer within it。From "The Souls of White Folk":"Conceive this nation， of all human peoples， engaged in a crusade to make the "World Safe for Democracy"！ [。。。] In short， what is the black man but America's Belguim， and how could America condemn in Germany that which she commits， just as brutally， within her own borders！"From "The Talented Tenth":"Here is a race transplanted through the criminal foolishness of your fathers。 Whether you like it or not the millions are here， and here they will remain。 If you do not lift them up， they will pull you down。 Education and work are the levers to uplift a people。 Work alone will not do it unless inspired by the right ideals and guided by intelligence。 Education must not simply teach work - it must teach Life。"。Remember， too， that du Bois warned against complacency， and a fundamental vanity in our simply just searching for freedom。 As his thoughts on education （and no doubt the meritocratic exceptionalism that's still with us today） demonstrate， everyone has a right to explore their unique excellence， with no exceptions。 Therefore， everyone must stand on free ground。 That freedom - and the material ground it rests on - has to be made， and drawn， and shared， and most vitally， recognised in another， as it is the key to the double consciousness that du Bois saw rooted in the American world。 Du Bois ended "The Souls of Black Folk" with this vision:"If somewhere in this whirl and chaos of things dwells Eternal Good， pitiful yet masterful， then anon in His good time America shall rend the Veil and the prisoned shall go free"。 。。。more
O'Neal Sadler
，
I've read this book before， so nothing here surprising but what struck me this second time around was how urgent it felt。 As if everything he foresaw--the problem of identity--becoming the chief problem of the 20th century turned out to be the problem of the 21st！ What to make of it all is complicated， and I'll be the first to admit I don't know what the solutions are。 Perhaps there are no solution to these problems。 Identity evolves， and with it our definitions。 But what I do understand is we w I've read this book before， so nothing here surprising but what struck me this second time around was how urgent it felt。 As if everything he foresaw--the problem of identity--becoming the chief problem of the 20th century turned out to be the problem of the 21st！ What to make of it all is complicated， and I'll be the first to admit I don't know what the solutions are。 Perhaps there are no solution to these problems。 Identity evolves， and with it our definitions。 But what I do understand is we will never make any progress if we are not willing to accept the identity of others as being equal to our own。 The Black experience has much to teach the world。 Will the wider world--i。e。 "White folk"--finally listen？ That remains to be seen。On another note， Du Bois， very much a child of European ideals， situates African-American culture in the context of European philosophy and history， comparing with literary figures like Goethe the plight of Black Americans。 This is no criticism， as I also embrace （however reluctantly） this context。 I am an American， but I am also a product of a school system that taught us the Western Tradition。 This alone is worthy of exploration， but for the sake of brevity， I'll just note that for those with a more militant take， Du Bois is great for historical context， but this is hardly his most radical book （that would come a decade later in his autobiography）。Over all， a great book brimming with powerful and necessary ideas。 。。。more
Leah
，
First published in 1903， the struggles Du Bois highlights in The Souls of Black Folk are just as relevant 118 years later。 The message is haunting and the prose is beautiful and lyrical， readily transporting the reader directly into turn-of-the-century Georgia。 The portraits of those described are elaborate and deep， and the arguments for progress and striving for something much more than submission and incremental achievement are cogent and striking。 I cannot believe that I got an entire two de First published in 1903， the struggles Du Bois highlights in The Souls of Black Folk are just as relevant 118 years later。 The message is haunting and the prose is beautiful and lyrical， readily transporting the reader directly into turn-of-the-century Georgia。 The portraits of those described are elaborate and deep， and the arguments for progress and striving for something much more than submission and incremental achievement are cogent and striking。 I cannot believe that I got an entire two degrees in American Literature and never read this book cover-to-cover。 The excerpts included in the anthology used in my survey class were woefully inadequate and hardly representative， and as I read this book， I couldn't stop thinking about how I had been given such a different impression of what this book is and is not。 I'm ashamed it's taken me this long to read this book all the way through， and I strongly recommend it to everyone in the United States。Out of this work arose major concepts that persist into fundamental understandings of race and race relations today， including "double-consciousness，" the "talented tenth，" and the "Veil" separating white people and Black people in the US。 Du Bois argues forcefully and repeatedly for the importance of voting rights （"Away with the black man's ballot， by force or fraud，--and behold the suicide of a race！"） and equal education （"It is the public schools， however， which can be made， outside the homes， the greatest means of training decent self-respecting citizens"）， and this is echoed in his sharp critique of Booker T。 Washington's approach， where he advocates that Black people must above all else， hold on to three things that Washington asks that they give up: the right to vote， civic equality， and the education of youth according to ability。In a current context of ardent attempts at the federal level and in many state legislatures to disenfranchise large swaths of people of color， especially Black and Latine peoples， and where the COVID-19 pandemic has brought inequities in schooling into even sharper relief， this book focuses on the exact struggles of our time。 It is dismaying that while the last 118 years have brought laws "guaranteeing" the right to vote to Black citizens and "desegregating" our schools， these issues persist with force。 The Souls of Black Folk has tremendous insight to offer as we navigate these policy issues today。If you have questions about "urban crime，" "black-on-black crime，" or why Black people are "lazy，" you should also read this book， especially chapters 7-8。It also contains a fascinating exploration of the Reconstruction era， how much effort it took to get the Freedmen's Bureau off the ground， and how quickly it was gone before it even had much chance to do its work。 I feel like that was very glossed over in my education as well。 While I've been a firm believer in reparations for some time now， reading chapter two only strengthened my resolve on that。 It definitely made me want to read more about the Reconstruction era and the Freedmen's Bureau。I cried reading chapter 13。 I don't cry over books， you can ask anyone who knows me。 But the story of John getting an education and beginning to see the oppression around him where he had previously been ignorant， and returning to a community that had raised and supported him so earnestly in getting educated only with a greater sense of isolation and sorrow， that broke me。 Not to mention the moment when John paid his whole （and last） five dollars for admission to a show/world that was so much more wild and amazing than he ever could have imagined for himself， just to be escorted out right as it was getting started because they had sold him a seat destined for someone else--a white man himself named John， a man in whose shadow he had lived his entire life。 The allegory was just too much。 This chapter was so intensely personal and all of it continues to happen so often today。 It was gut-wrenching the entire time。 There is so much more I could say about this work， but instead I will just end on this note:Some day the Awakening will come， when the pent-up vigor of ten million souls shall sweep irresistibly toward the Goal， out of the Valley of the Shadow of Death， where all that makes life worth living--Liberty， Justice， and Right--is marked "For White People Only。" 。。。more
Keneatha Renae
，
I've read this before。 It is always a spiritual experience。 A connection to history and pain and triumph that transcends words and touches your soul。 I've read this before。 It is always a spiritual experience。 A connection to history and pain and triumph that transcends words and touches your soul。 。。。more
Kit
，
African American writing is passionate， angry and is often a wake up call to neutral readers。 Long before the Harlem revival with Baldwin， Himes and Hughes， Dubois wrote prolifically about injustices to African Americans from a sociological perspective， but plenty of what he wrote remain obscure though he is a master essayist。 Certainly， Souls of Black Folk remain his most popular book， and provided a base for black civil rights activists long afterwards。I did not know what to expect when I pick African American writing is passionate， angry and is often a wake up call to neutral readers。 Long before the Harlem revival with Baldwin， Himes and Hughes， Dubois wrote prolifically about injustices to African Americans from a sociological perspective， but plenty of what he wrote remain obscure though he is a master essayist。 Certainly， Souls of Black Folk remain his most popular book， and provided a base for black civil rights activists long afterwards。I did not know what to expect when I picked up Souls。 I expected a fiery sermon， such as Baldwin's "The Fire Next Time"， and in some ways it is of the same vein。 I find that Dubois's tone contains the voices of an academic， a historian， sociologist， poet and African American all rolled into one。 Souls is a unique book - I've never read the essay in its format treated in such a poetic and impactful manner。 Read the book out loud and you'd be able to hear the tone that Dubois crafted。There are fourteen essays in the book。 All of them are different and all of them are memorable。 The first three can be considered as history - how African Americans are liberated， and how they adapted to the change， and how the South adapted to the change to try and keep blacks in slavery and segregate society。 Dubois wrote about the roots of segregation in the formation of the Bureau and the resistance from white America。 Yet， the most powerful essay is his rebuttal to Booker T Washington's philosophy of cooperation with white America。 Though these two men were working towards the same goal - the betterment of African Americans - Washington opted for a method of non-confrontation。We can consider the next essays as sociology - the adaptation to new norms。 The success of Atlanta， the importance of education and economic independence。 Some of the chapters feel personal to me， as Dubois spoke of his time as an educator in Tennessee and coming back a decade later to find that "progress" have not gone the way that he expected。 The remaining chapters covers spirituality - Dubois's argument for the church as a way to subdue slaves， what gives colour to African American church， a heartbreaking story of a black preacher who hit a glass ceiling and the spirituality of black music。Reading Souls should not be treated as a leisurely read。 The subject matter is too important for a pedestrian read。 The residues of slavery is still entrenched in American systems today。 African Americans are still living double lives as a black person and an American。 The veil， in fact has gone thicker because of the scale。 At times， the violence is blatant， but the racism is passive， latent， and this does the most damage。 。。。more
William Zeng
，
Why， if the Soul can fling the Dust aside，And naked on the Air of Heaven ride，Were’t not a Shame – were’t not a Shame for himIn this clay carcase crippled to abide？
Cherisa B
，
What an eye opener on a variety of topics in Black history in America and the thoughtful assessments by a great Black American intellect this book is。 The book is a collection of essays， each profound in its own way that can stand alone， but collectively blow your mind in its comprehensiveness in catching the Black experience and struggles， under slavery and afterwards。 The failed mission of the Freedman's Bureau， the importance of education and the struggle to build common schools， the founding What an eye opener on a variety of topics in Black history in America and the thoughtful assessments by a great Black American intellect this book is。 The book is a collection of essays， each profound in its own way that can stand alone， but collectively blow your mind in its comprehensiveness in catching the Black experience and struggles， under slavery and afterwards。 The failed mission of the Freedman's Bureau， the importance of education and the struggle to build common schools， the founding of black colleges， the Atlanta Compromise of Booker T。 Washington - these and other topics are covered as factual history， and are really done well， but ideas he presents signify as well in my education。 His concept of "the veil" as the powerful and invisible separator between the races curses those who live behind it。 He says this veil produces a “second-sight” that forces black people to view themselves through the hostile perspective of whites。 This “double-consciousness” is both a burden and a kind of skill， filling African Americans with internal conflict; yet it is a testament to their strength that they are still able to conduct their lives in this state of duality。 According to Du Bois， racist ideas are so pervasive that black people end up internalizing them without being aware that they are doing so。 This is a key example of the insidious psychological operation of racism。 His discussion of Blacks self-segregating for their own safety and psychic comfort raises the specter of increased economic hardship， as black communities tend to have poor resources and opportunities for work and education。 Likewise， an essay on music and its contributions to American society as "the most beautiful form of expression to come out of America"， and emphasizing the power of spirituals to create a sense of community also discusses how White America belittles it while adopting it。 Every essay within the pages of the book is a gem。 My edition was called a classic， and it surely is a classic American book that should be on every reading list of American lit & history。 。。。more
George Trudeau
，
"The black men of America have a duty to perform， a duty stern and delicate，—a forward movement to oppose a part of the work of their greatest leader。 So far as Mr。 Washington preaches Thrift， Patience， and Industrial Training for the masses， we must hold up his hands and strive with him， rejoicing in his honors and glorying in the strength of this Joshua called of God and of man to lead the headless host。 But so far as Mr。 Washington apologizes for injustice， North or South， does not rightly va "The black men of America have a duty to perform， a duty stern and delicate，—a forward movement to oppose a part of the work of their greatest leader。 So far as Mr。 Washington preaches Thrift， Patience， and Industrial Training for the masses， we must hold up his hands and strive with him， rejoicing in his honors and glorying in the strength of this Joshua called of God and of man to lead the headless host。 But so far as Mr。 Washington apologizes for injustice， North or South， does not rightly value the privilege and duty of voting， belittles the emasculating effects of caste distinctions， and opposes the higher training and ambition of our brighter minds，—so far as he， the South， or the Nation， does this，—we must unceasingly and firmly oppose them。 By every civilized and peaceful method we must strive for the rights which the world accords to men， clinging unwaveringly to those great words which the sons of the Fathers would fain forget: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life， liberty， and the pursuit of happiness。”" 。。。more
J。 R。 Floyd
，
This is an intense read。
Georgie
，
Poetic， informative， and stunning。
Byron Edgington
，
Life in the veil。 This is the encapsulation of WEB Dubois' seminal work， The Souls of Black Folk， on what it's like to live as a Black person in these United States。 Sadly， though the book was published in 1903， it is relevant these hundred and eighteen years later as Black Americans continue struggling to be， in Dubois' own words， 'a negro and an American。' Here's my disclaimer: As a white man in America， I understood very little of this book， except that my race bears a considerable blame for Life in the veil。 This is the encapsulation of WEB Dubois' seminal work， The Souls of Black Folk， on what it's like to live as a Black person in these United States。 Sadly， though the book was published in 1903， it is relevant these hundred and eighteen years later as Black Americans continue struggling to be， in Dubois' own words， 'a negro and an American。' Here's my disclaimer: As a white man in America， I understood very little of this book， except that my race bears a considerable blame for its contents。Dubois begins the book with a simple， yet profound question: How does it feel to 'be a problem。' As a white person in America， this was an unusual query for me， simply because， unless we're in trouble for some reason， or unable to accomplish a task， or lag behind our peers， we whites are never subjected to this feeling; we're never assumed to 'be' a problem。 Our Black friends and neighbors feel it their entire lives， simply because of the color of their skin。 Dubois writes of another sense that separates his race from whites， what he refers to as 'second sight，' that is， Black peoples' constant sense that they must see themselves not for themselves， but as white people see them。 They must always look at themselves through our eyes。 And the message Black people often find in that sight is—don't forget this was written 118 years ago—'the other world which does not know， and does not wish to know our power。' He continues， unashamed and unapologetic， in calling America to task for its serial disappointments regarding Black citizens: The Atlanta compromise; the Freedmen's Bureau and its lost promise; the on-going violence against Blacks across America， despite the 14th amendment。 Dubois is not shy about calling his contemporaries to task: He writes of the controversy surrounding Booker T。 Washington， and his degradation of Blacks， in Dubois' opinion， and the former's efforts to build Tuskegee Institute。 He writes also of the on-going antipathy among Blacks for Jewish people， accusing them of assisting the white race in keeping Black people subservient。 In another section reminiscent of today's headlines， particularly those emanating from Georgia， Dubois writes about voting， and those who would make the act of voting more difficult。 Since emancipation， Black churches have served many ways to benefit their members。 One of those services has been as a gathering place， a sort of circling the wagons kind of place prior to heading out for the polls。 This is why， 118 years after this book came out， it is no surprise that a new legislative initiative in the south brings an end to so called 'souls to the polls，' efforts。 History is indeed circular。He writes further about chain gangs in the south， and prison labor as nothing more than enslavement by another means， in order to create work crews for menial tasks the state would prefer not to pay for。 But mostly he writes about his title: The souls of Black folk。 And the theme he returns to， time after time， is how resilient and hopeful his people are， in spite of everything they've undergone in America since 1619。 In the author's words， 'there has always been the temptation to despair， when all we wanted was to be a negro。。。and an American。'The Souls of Black Folk 。。。more
Genny
，
changed my life
Wendy Lu
，
notes on external hard drive
Jake Lloyd
，
What an authentic look into Blacks' lives during Reconstruction。 Powerful， beautiful woven narrative。 What an authentic look into Blacks' lives during Reconstruction。 Powerful， beautiful woven narrative。 。。。more
Enrique Pérez
，
Brillante， conmovedor， adelantado a su tiempo。 Du Bois es el padre de la sociología americana， pero además escribe como poeta。 Los mejores ensayos son los más personales - Of the Passing of the First Born， Of the Coming of John， pero para nada le quitan el mérito de logros sociológicos como Of the Wings of Atalanta y Of the Quest of the Golden Fleece。
Sydney
，
As relevant and thought-provoking today as it was when it was published。
Adam Nasser
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"Of the Passing of the First-Born" and "Of the Coming of John" are particularly lyrical， beautiful， and haunting。 Some of the middle essays drag for the contemporary reader， yet their essence still rings deeply true。--"John，" she said， "does it make every one—unhappy when they study and learn lots of things？"He paused and smiled。 "I am afraid it does，" he said。"And， John， are you glad you studied？""Yes，" came the answer， slowly but positively。She watched the flickering lights upon the sea， and s "Of the Passing of the First-Born" and "Of the Coming of John" are particularly lyrical， beautiful， and haunting。 Some of the middle essays drag for the contemporary reader， yet their essence still rings deeply true。--"John，" she said， "does it make every one—unhappy when they study and learn lots of things？"He paused and smiled。 "I am afraid it does，" he said。"And， John， are you glad you studied？""Yes，" came the answer， slowly but positively。She watched the flickering lights upon the sea， and said thoughtfully， "I wish I was unhappy，—and—and，" putting both arms about his neck， "I think I am， a little， John。" 。。。more
Revanth Ukkalam
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Rhetoric is an art that is dying a slow death。 One of the greatest skills that a scholar could bag is that of speaking in the language that his target audience can understand and need， to urge change or action。 Du Bois pens this lyrical manifesto with just such a crackling prose。 It is not hard to see how Du Bois is an architect to how African Americans （and thereby a salient influence upon other subalterns and across the world） would structure their struggle for equality and emancipation from o Rhetoric is an art that is dying a slow death。 One of the greatest skills that a scholar could bag is that of speaking in the language that his target audience can understand and need， to urge change or action。 Du Bois pens this lyrical manifesto with just such a crackling prose。 It is not hard to see how Du Bois is an architect to how African Americans （and thereby a salient influence upon other subalterns and across the world） would structure their struggle for equality and emancipation from oppression。 He argues that a strong political platform for the blacks， a compassionate system of property redistribution， a powerful progressive movement， and education were all much-needed thrusts for an egalitarian future。 Du Bois must have been in his time a scandal。 How else would a man who charges his guns at Christianity and the new Christianity for the world， Americanism be treated？ Yet this is still a dated book。 Look how far social activism has come: "Looking now at the county black population as a whole， it is fair to characterize it as poor and ignorant。 Perhaps ten per cent compose the well-to-do and the best of the laborers， while at least nine per cent are thoroughly lewd and vicious。 The rest， over eighty per cent， are poor and ignorant， fairly honest and well meaning， plodding， and to a degree shiftless， with some but not great sexual looseness。 Such class lines are by no means fixed; they vary， one might almost say， with the price of cotton。" 。。。more
Daniel Kleven
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A giant of a book by a giant of an intellectual。 In the introduction， Arnold Rampersad of Stanford said it "remains possibly the most important book ever penned by a black American，" and I can see why。 Du Bois is a penetrating thinker， historian， sociologist， critic， and on top of that a great *writer。* Entire volumes have been written interacting with this work， and I won't attempt a detailed review at this point。 Suffice it to say that sometimes you meet someone on the paths of books and you r A giant of a book by a giant of an intellectual。 In the introduction， Arnold Rampersad of Stanford said it "remains possibly the most important book ever penned by a black American，" and I can see why。 Du Bois is a penetrating thinker， historian， sociologist， critic， and on top of that a great *writer。* Entire volumes have been written interacting with this work， and I won't attempt a detailed review at this point。 Suffice it to say that sometimes you meet someone on the paths of books and you realize you never want to leave their company。 Du Bois is such a figure for me -- I will be reading Du Bois for a long while to come。Just a note on editions: "The Oxford W。E。B。 Du Bois" edited by Henry Louis Gates， Jr。 is excellent: great introductions， great bibliographies， I think it's fair to say that Oxford is now the standard edition of Du Bois's works。 。。。more
Greg
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A beautifully written vignette of the critical analysis of the Reconstruction era and the perils of the freedmen。 It was shocking to see how some of the same issues continue over 150 years later。
Lyle Beefelt
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