The Souls of Black Folk by William Edward Burghardt Du Bois is a groundbreaking work of African American literature that was published in 1903. The work is highly influential and widely considered to be a cornerstone of American intellectual thought. The central theme of the book is the struggle for racial equality and equal opportunity, something that Du Bois thought to be impossible in the then current racial climate of the United States.
The central thesis of The Souls of Black Folk is that although African Americans have made significant advances in civil rights and progress, they still experience an unresolved “double-consciousness” due to their minority status in the United States. The term “double-consciousness” coined by Du Bois refers to the feeling of being a “stranger in one’s own country”. It is the experience of being two-minded, at once belonging to two different people, and at the same time, belonging nowhere whatsoever.
The Souls of Black Folk is made up of fourteen essays organized into three sections: The Dawn of Freedom, The Sorrow Songs, and Social Equality. In The Dawn of Freedom, Du Bois addresses topics such as the disenfranchisement of African Americans, the socio-economic strata in African American communities, and the African American experience in the South. In The Sorrow Songs section, he discusses race consciousness and its implications, the emotional and psychological legacy of African American slaves, and the creative spirit of African Americans. In Social Equality, Du Bois turns his attention to the fact that despite civil rights gains, African Americans still experience a form of second-class citizenship and furthers his “double-consciousness” thesis.
The Souls of Black Folk is credited by many as being the groundwork for the Civil Rights movement that emerged in the 1960s. It was the first book to propose a realistic way for African Americans to achieve equality in America. In the words of one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century, W. E. B. Du Bois, “We [black Americans] must live our lives, if we are to gain respect, by peaceful, but heroic, protest against customs and laws which admit of no elasticity and no variation.” Du Bois and his work ultimately paved the way for the civil rights movement and major strides towards social and political progress.
As a result of the widespread influence and power of The Souls of Black Folk, it continues to be remembered and studied today. The book is essential reading for anyone wanting to gain an understanding of the African American plight in the United States. It is especially recommended reading for those that seek to learn what life was like before the civil rights movement and the progress that has been made in African American rights and opportunities.
