W.E.B. Du Bois, born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, was a renowned sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist. Du Bois was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University, and his intellectual contributions played a pivotal role in shaping the African American experience in the United States. He was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909 and used his position to advocate for full civil rights, political equality, and the end of segregation. Du Bois is perhaps best known for his concept of “the Talented Tenth,” the idea that a small, highly educated and skilled group of African Americans should lead the fight for social change and uplift the entire race.
Du Bois also made significant contributions to literature and scholarship with his groundbreaking work, “The Souls of Black Folk,” published in 1903. In this work, he explored the complex nature of African American identity and the impact of systemic racism, introducing the concept of “double consciousness” — the internal struggle African Americans face in reconciling their Black identity with how they are perceived by a white-dominated society. Later in life, Du Bois became increasingly critical of the U.S. government and moved toward a more radical stance, advocating for socialism and eventually relocating to Ghana, where he spent his final years. Du Bois’ life and work remain influential, inspiring generations of African American thinkers and activists dedicated to achieving equality and justice.
