The Souls Of Black Folks: An Analysis
W.E.B. Du Bois, author of The Souls of Black Folks, wrote the enlightening text that many progressives (and non-progressives) of his time and of today study. Du Bois writes this novel in a lyrical and poetic style to tap in to the consciousness of African-Americans to inform them on the ways of gaining success in the American system that racially undervalues them. He also makes points to non-black Americans, but specifically white Americans, to inform them on how they can use their white privilege to advance African-Americans in society. His main focus is on the forward movement of black people and the first thing that he argues will advance them is the right to vote, the right to a good education, and overall equality, which he writes in
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No matter your geographic place in America, all black people were given the generally the same amount of respect by the people in control of the society. Double consciousness of black people is inevitable because of the negative rhetoric surrounding the idea of blackness. Black people have no choice but to reflect on their lives through their own eyes, but also the white eye. By doing so they are creating a shield of protection because they know what can happen to them or their loved ones. He writes, “One ever feels his twoness,--an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two reconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder” (3). Du Bois introduces this double identity that black people have in this country; being American, and being black. Du Bois writes, “he simply wishes to make is possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American without being cursed…” (3). He argues that the two, blackness and Americanism are such strong polar opposites that it becomes the most important time in a black American’s life when they realize exactly who they are. Black Americans always have this double consciousness, but they don’t realize that they do, and that it’s a problem, at the same time. Their life experiences, such as coming in to contact with racism, is what brings them out of their innocence, forcing them into a life where they will be racially disadvantaged and will always view themselves through both the white eye and their own eye. This essentially is what defines double
No matter your geographic place in America, all black people were given the generally the same amount of respect by the people in control of the society. Double consciousness of black people is inevitable because of the negative rhetoric surrounding the idea of blackness. Black people have no choice but to reflect on their lives through their own eyes, but also the white eye. By doing so they are creating a shield of protection because they know what can happen to them or their loved ones. He writes, “One ever feels his twoness,--an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two reconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder” (3). Du Bois introduces this double identity that black people have in this country; being American, and being black. Du Bois writes, “he simply wishes to make is possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American without being cursed…” (3). He argues that the two, blackness and Americanism are such strong polar opposites that it becomes the most important time in a black American’s life when they realize exactly who they are. Black Americans always have this double consciousness, but they don’t realize that they do, and that it’s a problem, at the same time. Their life experiences, such as coming in to contact with racism, is what brings them out of their innocence, forcing them into a life where they will be racially disadvantaged and will always view themselves through both the white eye and their own eye. This essentially is what defines double