Imagine a society with black slaves, unimaginable racism, and baffling inequality, the exact opposite of what the Constitution states. During the late 1800- early 1900's, racism and inequality was still a social norm in the United States until many remarkable rhetors, such as WEB DuBois, began to devise and execute a plan to alleviate the stress and childishness. WEB DuBois changed the conversation of the abolition movement.

Members of the NAACP fight for voter equality throughout the United States.

William Edward Burghardt was born February 23, 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. In 1884, DuBois graduated as his class valedictorian from high school and attended Fisk University. There, he recieved his bachelor degree in art in 1888, while he was teaching African American schools in rural Nashville. Later that year, he entered Harvard University and took his Bachelor of Arts cum laude. He later pursued graduate studies in history and economics at the University of Berlin. In 1895, he recieved his doctorate in history from the University of Harvard. His dissertation, The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America, was published no. 1 in the Harvard Historical Series and has yet to be surpassed (naacp.org). In 1896, he married Nina Gomer and had two children. In 1896-1897, he became the assistant instructor in sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. There, he conducted the pioneering sociological study of an urban community (naacp.org).

A modern picture of Harvard University, where DuBois attended for part of his educational career.

Although DuBois had a successful beginning educational career, it did not stop there. He began teaching at the University of Pennsylvania and Atlanta University where he published his first post-dissertation based upon the ideologies that housing and unemployment discrimination were "the primary fences to racial equalities and black prosperity in the North" (Aldridge). "His work and conclusions initiated the field of African American urban history" (Washington & Robeson). However, DuBois lacked the public appeal, even from blacks. He was unwilling to see compromise about racial inequality and freedom. In 1903, he published a collection of essays, The Souls of Black Folks, that "challenged the civil rights strategies of black leaders like Washington, while inspiring a cadre of young black activist scholars to use their work to combat racial oppression" (Aldridge). In 1905, WEB DuBois founded the Niagra movement to fight racial oppression. After many declined the movement, he became the co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was later fired. (Aldridge). His leaving reflected his dissatisfaction over the continuing power of white racism and supremacy, which he felt was compromising black leaders. His continued speeches and editorials made him more unpopular. But, he was still convince scholarship could promote racial equality. "His conclusions regarding the progress made by African Americans during the decade of reconstruction have now been accepted by almost all mainstream historians" (Aldridge).

Booker T. Washington, an associate of DuBois'.

WEB DuBois later moved to Ghana, Africa in 1961. Although he left the country, his legacy is still continued by those still fighting for equality. DuBois' idea that scholarship and work can be used "to combat racial oppression" (Aldridge). His ideologies and beliefs can not only be used to fight racial oppression, but also fight oppression and inequality of all kinds. He taught people to not only use their work and scholarship to fight, but also to stick with what they believe, even against popular belief. His legacy survives through all of us fighting for a cause.