Life Behind the Veil in Du Bois' The Souls of Black Folk Du Bois' metaphor of double consciousness and his theory of the Veil are the most inclusive explanation of the ever-present plight of modern African Americans ever produced. In his nineteenth century work, The Souls of Black Folks, Du Bois describes double consciousness as a "peculiar sensation. . . the sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity" (Du Bois, 3). According to Du Bois assertions, the Black American exists in a consistent "twoness, - an American, a Negro"(3). Further, he theorizes, the African American lives shut behind a veil, viewing from within and without it. He is privy to white America's perspective of him, yet he cannot reveal his true self. He is, in fact, protected and harmed by The Veil. Nearly a century later, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., himself a Harvard scholar, addresses the anomaly of the Afro-American as he has existed for the past two centuries; that the Black American's greatest obstacle is the lack of self determination. The inability to define oneself will undoubtedly lead to an unhealthy dependence upon the definition of a biased party that will apply an erroneous definition. Gates states that "the Afro American's attempt to gain self-consciousness in a racist society will always be impaired by the fact that any reflected image that he or she seeks in the gaze of white Americans is refracted through 'the dark veil-mirror of existence'..."(Du Bois, xx). Since 1945, in what is defined by literary scholars as the Contemporary Period, it appears that the "refracted public image"(xx) whites hold of blacks continues to necessitate ... ... middle of paper ... ...one existing trapped within the view of hegemonic society; angry, but powerless so long as he remains in this state. Yet Sanchez provides a succinct plan for Black Americans in their quest to ascend the Veil: to exist as both African and American while feeding white America a pacifying view of a half truth-destruction fueled by deadly ignorance. The speakers of the poems are merely victims of the same system, seeking the same freedom. While the works of these authors differ greatly, one characteristic is common in both works: The desire for power to ascend the Veil that hangs heavily upon them like a cloak that prevents their ascension. The desire to live beyond the Veil. Works Cited Du Bois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk. New York: Bantam, 1989 Lauter, Paul, ed. The Heeath Anthology of American Literature: Volume Two. New York: Houghton Mifflin Inc., 1996
According to West, “the attitudes of white scholars in the academy are quite different than those in the past” (West pg. 303). In the dilemma of the black intellectual Afro-American intellectual often known better as “black’s” have a stressful time in being acceptance in whites universities and find themselves in one of the black educational institutions for potential black intellectuals. Many black’s begin their intellectual career with hopes of self worth and self confidence in a way that is in alignment with certain values. Under the effects of their own emotional pain however, some black’s become removed from those values, removed from the purpose behind their intellectual. Black’s can feel like a ship in stormy seas, floundering with nothing solid to anchor to. When black’s make demands, use criticism or labeling to be taken seriously as potential scholars and intellectuals in our universities and colleges to vulgar perceptions fueled by
The work, the Souls of Black Folk explains the problem of color-line in the twentieth century. Examining the time following the civil war the author, W.E.B. Dubois, explains the African American experience of living behind the “veil”. To fully explain the experience of living behind the veil, he provides the reader with situations that a black race experiences in reconstruction. This allowed the readers to metaphorically step into the veil with him. He accomplishes this with the use of “songs of sorrow” with were at the beginning of each chapter, and with the use of anecdotes.
Contemporary sociology grows from work of the past, this is no different in the manner that Patricia Hill Collins builds off W.E.B Du Bois understanding of double consciousness. In her essay, “Learning from the Insider Within: The Sociological Significance of Black Feminist Thought”, Patricia Hill Collins analyses Black feminist thought through a discourse following three distinct themes that allow for Black Women within the field of sociology an unique perspective outside the boundaries. Collins diverges into the topic by breaking down the historical example of “outsider within” which provides black women a distinct point of critical lens that is beneficial. Following, Collins “[examines] the sociological significance of the Black feminist
Canadian Aboriginal Aids Network, Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS, and Health Canada. Hands Across the World: An Indigenous Peoples Forum. Final Report, July 17, 1999 AIDS Impact Conference. Ottawa: Blue Moon Consulting.Ê 1999.
"For now we see through a glass, darkly" --Isiah 25:7 W.E.B. Du Bois's Souls of Black Folk, a collection of autobiographical and historical essays contains many themes. There is the theme of souls and their attainment of consciousness, the theme of double consciousness and the duality and bifurcation of black life and culture; but one of the most striking themes is that of "the veil. " The veil provides a link between the 14 seemingly unconnected essays that make up The Souls of Black Folk. Mentioned at least once in most of the 14 essays it means that, "the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second sight in this American world, -a world with yields him no true self-consciousness, but only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world. It is a peculiar sensation, this double consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others.
Early summer, about forty-eight years ago in 1965, University of Florida assistant football coach, Dwayne Douglas, sat down and wondered why so many of his players were suffering from heat strokes and heat related illnesses during games or practice. So, he went to the university physicians and asked them to determine why this was happening. Not long after it was discovered that two key factors were causing the Florida Gator players to suffer from these conditions: the fluids and electrolytes the players were losing during the events were not being put back into the body, and the massive amounts of carbohydrates the players' bodies used for energy were not being replenished. So, he decided to create Gatorade. There are plenty of Gurus out there who will sit and tell you that water is natural and it’s the best thing you could ever put into your body, but let’s get real I’ll take scientifically proven research over someone’s “word” any day. (Rovell 58)
The idea of double consciousness was first conceptualized by W.E.B. Du Bois. In his writing “The Souls of Black Folk” Du Bois reflects on the subjective consequences of being black in America. On the concept, Du Bois says: “After the Egyptian and Indian, the Greek and Roman, the Teuton and Mongolian, the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second-sight in this American world,--a world which yields him no true self-consciousness, but only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world. It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his twoness,--an America...
These problems have been seen throughout history, whether it be the Du Bois’ own personal story of losing his son, the African Diaspora, the novel Invisible Man, written by Ralph Ellison, or even current-day events like the Black Lives Matter movement and the first African-American family to sit in the White House. Du Bois’ personal story of losing his son shows the presence of the color line when his son was denied of medical treatment just based on the color of his skin. The African Diaspora encompasses all three of these concepts. Those who have been a part of the Diaspora are known to go through an identity crisis since they don’t want to lose their black roots, but also want to be considered part of a new society. Ellison’ novel Invisible Man, is the story of the evolution of a black man who goes through his own identity crisis from trying to fit the standard of the white society of American to realizing that being himself as a black male leaves him metaphorically invisible to society. The Black Lives Matter movement shows the breaking of the veil that was put on African-Americans. Lastly, the possibility of having a black family as the United States’ first family supports the point Du Bois made that some individuals are able to triumph the veil put on
Lauter, Paul, vol. 1, 3rd ed. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Pub: by Houghton Mifflin, 19
“It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his twoness, – an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.” (Dubois 694).
Zencovich, M., K. Kennedy, D. W. MacPherson, and B. D. Gushulak. 2006. “Immigration medical screening and HIV infection in Canada.” International Journal of STD & AIDS 17:813.
DuBois’ double-consciousness is quite simply the twoness of American Negroes. It is this sense of “always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity.” (DuBois 3). DuBois depicts a world wherein the blacks of America wish to preserve their Negro heritage because of its message for the world, as well as the construction of America because of its ultimate good. As long as the veil exists, however, ...
One way of doing this is by using slogans to show what they have to offer. Gatorade uses catchy slogans to reach their target audience, and to show what their product can be used for. Gatorade uses slogans to identify the company’s mission and theme and reveal them to the consumer. One of Gatorade’s most recent slogans is “Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee, ½ the calories, all the G.” Many people already recognize the first part of the slogan because it is associated with famous professional boxer, Muhammad Ali. But Gatorade is using this catch phrase as a means to describe how athletes want to compete on the field. Athletes want to perform their best and they need products to get them to their best. By Gatorade using the catch phrase in the first part of their slogan, they are basically saying that if the consumer drinks their sports drink, they will “float like a butterfly” and “sting like a bee.” “Float like a butterfly” can have a lot of meanings. To the consumer, mostly active individuals, this can mean that as they compete, they will seamlessly float as if they belong on the field like a butterfly’s flight belongs in the wind. Just like the “float like a butterfly” part, the “sting like a bee” part can also appeal to the target audience. Because athletes want to do their best when they compete, Gatorade recognized that this part of Muhammad Ali’s catch phrase would best express that by using their products, athletes would achieve their goal. “Sting like a bee” can also have many interpretations. The target audience may interpret this as, since they are drinking a product from Gatorade, they will effectively perform their best when they compete. A bee’s sting is really strong, so in turn, when they compete, they want their performance to be as effective as a bee’s sting strength. “The half the calories, all the G” part
Ever since 1965 Gatorade has been one of the top selling energy drinks in America. Gatorade has come a long way since its start and is now the official drink of several professional sport leagues. The company brings in over three billion dollars worth of revenue every year mostly due to their skill in advertising which is a crucial part of a company of such magnitude and Gatorade is known for their persuasive commercials. In the commercial chosen, several stellar professional athletes give the viewers details of some of their greatest failures. This caused each of them to work harder and become the athlete they are today by training harder and making them more determined. The Gatorade commercial that was chosen is a very effective ad because
...Gatorade. Go look at some other drinks such as PowerAde or some Vitamin Water. There pretty much all the same just with different flavors. Advertisers try and persuade you from the one place you thought was safe from them, your brain. There’s pretty much no hiding from ads but the next time you see one on TV don’t just passively watch them, and let those advertisers in your brain, analyze those commercials, so instead of just watching, you’ll be thinking.