W.E.B DuBois: A Remarkable Rhetor Berenice Chavez
"The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line." This quote is taken from the book The Souls of Black Folk, written by William Edward Burghardt Du Bois; a scholar, writer, educator, and civil rights activist (poetryfoundation.org). W.E.B DuBois was very educated, and used this as a tool for abolition. Because of his many literary works, and active participation in politics, DuBois notably impacted the abolition movement of the 1850s.
Background
W.E.B DuBois was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on February 23rd, 1868. His parents were of working class status, his mom was a domestic worker and his dad a barber. DuBois excelled in school, and was the first African American to graduate from Great Barrington's racially integrated high school. He was valedictorian, and received many scholarships to attend college at Fisk University in Tennessee. After getting a bachelor's degree at Fisk, he went on to study at Harvard University and eventually earned his PhD. He also taught sociology(Anb.org).
involvement
W.E.B Dubois first began analyzing the deep troubles of American Racism when he attended Fisk University.It was there that he encountered Jim Crow laws, which sparked his determination to make a change (bio.com). In 1905, DuBois and other black leaders created the "Niagara Movement", which provided an organized way to challenge segregation and discrimination (blackpast.org). This movement slowly declined, but Dubois' intentions certainly did not. In 1909, he cofounded the NAACP, which stands for The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. From 1910 to 1934, he served director of publicity and research, a member of board directors,and the Editor of their monthly magazine (Naacp.org).
legacy
DuBois is seen today as the best known spokesperson for African-American rights during the first half of the 20th century (bio.com). His best tactic against abolition was his writing. He published many books and wrote many articles; all which challenged the way society viewed segregation and discrimination. His message of equality is persevered in these writings, and in the organizations that he helped create, such as the NAACP which still advocates fair treatment of all people today.
