Illustration of W. E. B. Du Bois

The Souls of Black Folk

by W. E. B. Du Bois

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The Souls of Black Folk Themes

The main themes in The Souls of Black Folk are education, the duality of the Black American experience, and the nature of freedom.

  • Education: Du Bois believes that education is the best way for Black people to achieve progress and essential for erasing the color line that divides American society.
  • The duality of the Black American experience: To be both Black and American, Du Bois writes, is to experience a constant conflict between two irreconcilable identities.
  • The nature of freedom: Du Bois argues that the “Veil” between Black and white Americans continues to prevent Black people from becoming truly free.

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Themes: Education

Du Bois is an educator, and it is his central belief that education is the best route open to Black people who wish to improve their lot in America. He is particularly focused on the idea that Black Americans, like white Americans, should be encouraged to focus on the type of education that makes the most sense for them: it is not right to stream all Black people into industrial schools when there are some, the "Talented Tenth," who are...

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Themes: The Duality of the Black American Experience

Du Bois returns repeatedly in this book to the idea of the Black American experience as an inherently conflicted one: to be Black and, at the same time, American is to struggle with two identities that are continually at war with one another, an internal conflict Du Bois terms "double-consciousness." While to be American is to expect freedom and liberation, to be Black in America is to recognize that freedom is in many ways an illusion. Black...

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Themes: The Nature of Freedom

Du Bois's overarching concern in this book is, of course, racism and the state of race relations in America at the time of writing. He believes the world to be divided by a "color-line" or "Veil" that hangs between Black and white people, and he is keen to emphasize that, because of the legacy of enslavement in the United States, this veil continues to prevent Black Americans from achieving true freedom, no matter what echelon of society they...

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Themes: Racism

In The Souls of Black Folk, W. E. B. Du Bois explores the pervasive theme of racism in America, illustrating its impact on African Americans' lives. He delves into the struggles for true freedom and equality post-emancipation, highlighting the systemic barriers that persist. Du Bois uses powerful metaphors and narratives to convey the psychological and social effects of racism, advocating for resistance and transcendence to achieve genuine...

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Themes: Education

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