Essay about Dubois and the Color Line

Words: 894
Pages: 4
Open Document
3.) According to DuBois, “the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line.” Using several representative examples, consider how American writers (of any color) since the Civil War have addressed this problem.

DuBois's quote, "The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line," tells a great deal of how Americans in general felt towards segregation -- each side had suspicions about the goings-ons of the other race. Blacks had a stronger sense of such hesitency because of their history with Whites, and Whites were generally afraid of anything different than themselves, thus the enslavement. Hughes, as a writer, dealt with this problem in a way that few had done, and fewer had done successfully -- …show more content…
This Veil has many implications on seperation, as it literally blocks the view of one side to the other, and anything that can be gained or learned from the other has simply been ignored by the building of said wall. The Veil also represents the unequal freedoms between the two kinds of Americans. DuBois writes in a reactionary sense, with a strong feeling of contempt for all those who are beyond the Veil. However, DuBois' point is not only that of White Americans view of Blacks is skewed, but that Blacks view of themselves is skewed. The Veil works both ways: Whites cannot see Blacks beyond their skin color, as Blacks cannot see Whites beyond their skin color. The personality behind that skin color is what gives a person a soul, or rather, gives that person a relative form of humanity. What is beyond the veil, what is inside, is what makes us human. The inability to see beyond the veil to what is inside results in neither side being able to see the other as human.

DuBois' incredible writing style, along with his intense fury and anger fueling his writing, shone like a beacon to those who had found themselves in a situation with such unequal power. DuBois addressed the problem of the color line with a viewpoint of how one side saw the other side, and then understanding why there was such a viewpoint in the first
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about Dubois and the Color Line

Du Dubois Color Line Essay

Du Bois color line is considered to be the 20th centuries greatest problem. The color line is derived from the veil and double consciousness. With the existence of the color line it will be hard for blacks to gain the same level of success like the whites. Blacks and whites coexist in the world but they both have different experiences. All over the world the colored have suffered the most. “The workshops denies him work, and in the inn denies him shelter; the ballot box a fair vote, and the jury…

Words 429 - Pages 2

W. E. B. Dubois Accomplishments

Born in the United States, in 1868, W.E.B. Dubois was a noteworthy African American scholar. The very first Ph.D. ever awarded to an African American, in any field, was awarded to him. He was one of the most important early sociological thinkers, as well as the cofounder of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Dubois was committed to standing up for social justices. He had many achievements, but not without…

Words 334 - Pages 2

Simmel Vs Dubois Research Paper

Simmel and DuBois Georg Simmel and W.E.B DuBois are both two instrumental sociologist. Simmel and DuBois come from very different backgrounds and countries; Simmel is from Germany, whereas DuBois is an African American man writing in the United States. However, they both touched on the issue of race, one more blatantly than the other. Though they were writing at different times their theories are still prevalent today. In today’s society the issue of race is still evident, let us take a look at some…

Words 1212 - Pages 5

Dubois's Essay 'The Souls Of Black Folk'

1.) How did Dubois set up the contrast between blacks and whites in his essays "The Souls of Black Folk"? Dubois had many different contrasts he used throughout his essays “The Souls of Black Folk”. He used the concept of a veil being the oppressed blacks, Dubois also emphasized the importance of education. He believed it was essential for a black to be educated in order to break the oppression barrier. One other contrast was his color-line concept; which was the idea that blacks could never become…

Words 94 - Pages 1

Booker T Washington Vs Dubois

International exposition in Atlanta (“Booker T. Washington”). Washington advocated that becoming more involved in industry and being a crucial part of society were the best ways to gain equal social rights (Cochran Lecture, 09/28/17). A few years later W.E.B. Dubois wrote The Souls of Black Folk in response to Washington’s speech. Although…

Words 692 - Pages 3

According To Paul And Elder, Well-Cultivated Thinkers Have The Following Attributes?

“veil of color” DuBois claims that, although whites and blacks interacted in specific ways in day to day life in the South, they never: Student Answer: Really cared about one another Shared trade skills with one another Were able to interact in business transactions and labor Were able to create a community of intellectual life and racial sympathy None of the above Instructor Explanation: The answer can be found in “Of the Sons of Master and Man” by W.E.b. DuBois. Points…

Words 1501 - Pages 7

Compare And Contrast W. E. B Dubois And Booker T Washington

W.E.B DuBois and Booker T. Washington both wanted equality, but couldn't have differed more on how the future suffrage of African Americans should be sought out. During the 19th and 20th century, African Americans were facing an uproar of discrimination and segregation. All they could do was either accept it or fight it. This is when DuBois and Washington become largely involved and spoke on how their equality should be carried. Booker T. Washington believed they shouldn’t fight their white oppressors…

Words 333 - Pages 2

Du Bois Essay

Dec 2014 A Look Inside: W.E.B. Du Bois and the Color Line The 1903 published work of W.E.B. Du Bois The Souls of Black Folk is a collection of his written essays that were first published in 1903. It was reprinted twenty-four times between then and 1940. Coined the Father of social science, Du Bois brings together a blend of history, sociological data, poetry, song, and the benefit of his personal experience to propose his vision of how and why color poses such a dilemma at the turn of the twentieth…

Words 758 - Pages 4

Me Too By Langston Hughes

Hughes uses very simple terms that allow for interpretations reading. Being African american who is proud of the skin color he in is explaining that as a American like everyone else in the country, but that it is only a darker skin color, "He says that although he is of another color, he is still…

Words 993 - Pages 4

African American Study: Booker T Washington and Web Dubis Essay

Exposition Speech, which exposed many Booker T. Washington ideas, he talked about building their life by accomplishing and raising life by themselves. This seems very independent. He said that blacks accepted the fact that they have a different skin color and were being segregated and so we should work harder so whites might finally consider them as their own citizens. According to his autobiography “Up from slave” he established Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where he taught useful skills such as,…

Words 737 - Pages 3