The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Dubois Essay Example

to testimonies in order to illustrate how bad racism and discrimination of blacks has grown in America (Dubois, 1903).

In his first essay, Du Bois takes the readers through the life lived and experienced by the blacks. This includes discrimination based on his skin color. Through this essay, the reader can easily understand how skin color has created problems for the black individuals living in a white man’s land. People are segregated according to how they look rather than what they have. Variously he describes how stratification and marginalization of the blacks have been enlarged due to the gaps created by the color line perception. Blacks are thought to be “dirty” both in mind and soul. Related to crime and easy to harm. The same issue of stratification and marginalization was discussed by Desmond and Emirbayer in the politics, economics and housing chapters. The sociologist felt that the blacks were given the lower levels of each event in the society. They were seen as less according to attitudes and beliefs of the American racial leaders. For example, they occupied the lower levels in social classification. They also acted as slaves or servants to their whites masters (Desmond & Emirbayer, 2015). For example, the whites occupied the highland estates while the blacks lived in shanties with no food or source of basic needs. The blacks were used as slaves or low waged workers in these farms. This is an indication of how serious marginalization would affect the people. Being segregated from accessing the resources such as better employment or land led the blacks in living a vulnerable life. Lack of proper political representation also implies that the

blacks had no voice in the decision-making platforms making them weaker while whites dominate (Dubois, 1903).

In his third essay, Dubois describes Booker T. Washington rise to prominence in the United States. Since the reconstruction era, Dubois describes Washington’s rise as the most significant event in the African-American history. But, Washington is wholly influenced by the white man’s racial attitude that blinds his mentality on the problems faced by the Negros. To Dubois, the approach applied by Washington is counterproductive to the development and long-term growth of the Black race. For instance, he accepts segregation and emphasis on the importance of material progress on the blacks. His comments and argument reflect the attitude of submission to the racial discrimination accorded by the whites. But, Dubois argues that civic equality, right to vote and equality in education are the most significant aspects of African-American Progress. (Dubois, 1903).

‘Of the Meaning of Progress,' is another important part that Dubois applies to describe his experience as a school teacher in the Southern part of the United States. In here, he discovers that the African-Americans are not working towards building better race relationships rather, they are involved in materialism and wealth due to the industrialization process. Additionally, due to the mentality and attitude that blacks are supposed to submit and offer services since the Slavery period, the capitalist have no focus on the training the blacks who would work effectively in these industries. The same issue was touched by Desmond and Emirbayer in chapter seven and nine where they described education and human associations as part of the events escalating racial waves in America (Desmond & Emirbayer, 2015). By being segregated

and eliminated from the mainstream training and education systems, African-Americans can no longer support themselves due to poverty and lack of association among themselves. It, therefore, reflects the miserable life lived by African-Americans in the Whiteman’s land (Dubois, 1903).

The later section of the paper describes how African-Americans have achieved a relative level of success in the United States through education and religion. For example, some African-Americans already owned some parts of the southern Black Belt and the cotton fields, but only a few can enjoy the economic success. Based on this, Dubois describes the tenant farming and the legal system as a slavery project blinding the African-Americans with opportunities. Also, he evaluates the development of African-American religion from the African grassroots through the slavery to the formation of the Methodist and Baptist churches. Though success is experienced in developing religion, not all African-Americans have the freedom to enjoy the same fruits of the religion. Discrimination and Whiteman’s dominance is also controlling. According to Desmond and Emirbayer, social institutions such as the church were wholly influenced and connected to the whites’ mentality of racism which changed the mindset and emotions of many African-Americans joining the successful league (Desmond & Emirbayer, 2015). In essence, regardless of the fact that the blacks were the initiators and moderators of the Africa-American religion, they were wholly controlled by the white masters. It, therefore, suggests that the blacks were the powerless while the white masters were powerful with the energy to place rules and regulation to be followed by the servants (the blacks) (Dubois, 1903).

The last chapter of his books described how racial prejudice impacts on different parts of individual life.

In this chapter, he mourns the life of his first born son but feels it’s better dead than live in a world dominated by racial perceptive and color lines. He relates his disappointment and agony to the story of Alexander Crummel, who fought against prejudice to become an Episcopal priest. Variously, he describes a story of a young black man called John in ‘Of the coming of John’ who was destroyed by racism after undergoing the whole education system. It implies how the southern community disvalued the Black lives making them marginalized and segregated from the main success stream. Dubois concludes his work through African-American spirituals which were developed by Africans as a powerful expression of their suffering, exile, pain and sorrow. To Dubois, the songs are a clear indication of African-Americans are suffering in America (Dubois, 1903).
W.E.B Du Bois succeeds in providing the personal and third-person account of the struggles and experience by the Blacks during the Reconstruction and slavery period. He explores how the whites are working around the clock to bar the blacks in realizing their destiny and independence in all spheres of life i.e. education. For example, the education system is set in a way that only the powerful in terms of resources can assess better education. Also, The same is experienced in ‘Race in America’, by Desmond and Emirbayer, which explore the racial polarization in American ways of life, politics and education where the minority (African-Americans) are challenged with inadequate housing, lower income levels, and poor working environments (Desmond & Emirbayer, 2015). Racism explains the reason more African-Americans are poor while Native Americas (the Whites) are rich, educated and well

represented in politics and economic systems. Regardless of the growing African-American population, the whites have already laid a better foundation for their future generations making it hard for blacks to prosper (Dubois, 1903).

The book ‘Souls of Black’ may, therefore, be described as a literary treasure, a testimony to the human spirit and an economic and political analysis of the problems faced by the African-Americans. The challenges range from general alienation in developmental process to discrimination in resource allocation. Lack of better education services exposes blacks to a challenging life. Without education, they cannot access better jobs, or have skills to utilize the little they have at their disposal. Though the spirituals and the songs depict the suffering and struggle experienced by the blacks, Du bois succeed in giving workable interventions that would help neutralize the racial inequities faced by the blacks. For example, he argues that only sympathy and union of intelligence across the racial line that equality and justice for blacks will be achieved. Therefore, the book tries to explain the disparity we experience today between the whites and the blacks in America. This is in terms of education, politics or even position in the society. Personally, I feel that blacks have an opportunity to develop if they work as a team. They have the ability to voice their grievances and fight segregation if they come together. This may be confirmed by their support to President Obama in previous elections. Teamwork means power to the society.

References

1. Desmond, M., & Emirbayer, M. (2015). Race in America. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
2. Dubois, W.E.B. (1903). The Souls of Black Folk. A.C. McClurg & Co:
   

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