The Souls of Black Folk

W.E.B. Dubois is a man thought of to be a racial activist. He is famous for his pursuit of social justice, and his creatively written pieces of literature. Dubois is widely known for his popular book titled The Souls of Black Folk. This book is widely important to the African American race, as it displays the problems that surface within, and around the race. Dubois strategically made this book universal to everyone, by telling his personal encounters, and makes sure to describe the characters of different racial background who were involved. In the beginning he tells his story from the view of an innocent child. He recalls an instance when he purchased cards for his class, and was having a great encounter passing them to his friends and classmates. When he tries to befriend a tall girl who does not resemble him, he begins to learn the difference in race. She denies his cards, and could not understand why at first, but soon learns that it is because of his darker color skin. By telling the story through the innocence of a child, we see just how drastically society can influence the views of a person. A child sees differences, but they accept the person as another human being. It isn’t until the child is expressed to the judgmental views of society do they start to infer their own opinions on racial status. Being young, they are naïve meaning they cannot make their own opinions, meaning they are under the influence of their pro slavery parents. Eyes know no discrimination, only humans do.

In the beginning passage, he states “Between me and the other world there is ever an unmasked question.” When he is speaking about the other world, he is referring to the Caucasian race. This is what he refers to as double consciousness, where one views them through the eye of another. He is hidden behind the veil of his race. “He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of opportunity closed roughly in his face.” (Dubois 45/46) Here Dubois is stating how the veil he wears condemns him to a life of discrimination, and cruelty. He refers to the veil as being a curse; a man cannot be both a Negro and a man. This is a simple, but great detail on the way African Americans were treated, and why. By making the veil a metaphor for skin, he is logically stating that our skin color is what causes our oppression. However veils are made to be things of beauty. Traditionally brides wear veils on the day of their wedding, as a symbol of elegance and beauty. Indian and belly dancers often use the finest cloths to create stunning pieces of wardrobe among them being the essential veil. Had Dubois not have liked the skin color of African Americans, he would have referred them to something else, something less elegant, and appealing. The tone of the first passages is patience, and an overall sense of wanting to be accepted.

“To be a poor man is hard, but to be a poor race in a land of dollars is the very bottom of hardships.” (Dubois 51) In the years to pass, the discrimination against African Americans is still in existence. The black race continues to be the race that is “poor” in a society of the wealthy. Traditionally the wealthy held the most rank in society, and also had the bigger voice. Being a Negro you had no voice to begin with, with the added factor of being the minority, with having hate groups against you. He questions the morality of America by asking if America will become poor, if it replaced brutal dyspeptic blundering with light-hearted Negro humanity. Meaning being humane to our dark money makers, will not kill America’s economy. Logically Dubois is making substantial points in persuading people to see the downside side of slavery by showing it through his eyes.