Summary Of The Souls Of Black Folk By W. E. B. Du Bois

The existence for Africans-Americans in the United States has never been an easy one, whether it was during the slavery era or after. The subjugation towards African-Americans is still evident in our current day society. Though the segregation and oppression towards this group isn’t as evident compared to that of the time of enslavement of African-Americans, it is still just as marked on their everyday experiences. W.E.B. Du Bois was a prominent figure in forming movements that worked towards ending this obvious segregation between whites and blacks during his time. Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk, published in 1903, encompasses the post-slavery era struggle of the integration of these African-Americans into society. Du Bois writes to his
Identifying with both identities caused African-Americans to feel as though they were betraying either of the identities. They felt as though identifying as an American would seem as a disregard towards their black roots, while identifying as black was insufficient in a society where being black was held to a lower standard. The sense of double consciousness in African-Americans left them feeling unfulfilled, as they weren’t able to reach the expectations of both identities. Since both identities were part of their realities, African-Americans often felt angst and distress within themselves when both identities would overlap. Du Bois believed the contradiction between these two identities didn’t allow African-Americans to be able to realize their true self and potential. Du Bois explained, “He would no Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He would no bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity close roughly in his face.”2 Du Bois saw the only solution to the internal conflict of double consciousness in African-Americans was the lifting of the “veil,” which meant the recognition of blacks as Americans by the prominent white society
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