W. E. B Dubois The Souls Of Black Folk Analysis

Essay Exam #2
Kaitlyn Rangel
Sociology of Minorities
University of Northern Colorado

W.E.B Du Bois wrote “The Souls of Black Folk” that explained what life was like to be a black American in 1903. Du Bois details the internal struggle of being a darker skin tone in a white society. Africans were brought to America solely for slavery; even after slavery was abolished African Americans were still treated differently. Thus, the “color line” emerged. Blacks were separated from whites and treated unequally to their white counterparts. Du Bois further details a “veil” that black Americans were put into. The “veil” is a concept that describes how black Americans felt in society. Blacks were unable to feel a part of society because of the way whites still viewed them as slaves. Blacks also felt they could not be true Americans because of the circumstances that lead them there (Du Bois 1903). The internal struggle of being different within society caused turmoil
in the individual. This racial line still continues today, but can be seen in society within the GLBTQ community.
Acceptance of gay and lesbian individuals can be seen in recent years with the legalization of same-sex marriage. Even gay/lesbian families are able to adopt children easier than in the past. However, there is far less acceptance of the transgender and bisexual population within the GLBTQ community and in society as a whole. GLBTQ community is a minority group that is not oppressed by race, class, or wealth like other minority groups. Anyone can be oppressed within this group. There is still fear with any minority group because of the lack of understanding and knowledge. Those within this community and society as a whole see differences and aims to distance themselves due to fear. Instead they remain naïve about the outcome of doing so and how it hurts those they are oppressing. The GLBTQ oppresses transgender and bisexuals because they do not share the same black and white definition of being either gay or lesbian.
Society still promotes heterosexism even with gaining acceptance of gays and lesbians. “Heterosexism can be used to refer to the systems that provide rationale and operating instructions for that antipathy. These systems include beliefs about gender, morality, and danger by which homosexuality and sexual minorities are defined as deviant, sinful, and threatening” (Herek 2004). The transgender population is seen as threatening to the gay and lesbian community because of its complexity. The belief is that transgender will revert society back to the binary system. The article, “GL vs. BT”, explains “Prejudice in gay and lesbian communities against bisexuals and transgenders is heterosexism because it is, among other things, an accommodationist attempt to disavow these more “radical” forms of sexuality”(Weiss 2003).
The hierarchy within the GLBTQ community can be seen at a micro and macro level. The term gay and lesbian are used more commonly today compared to transgender, transsexual, queer, or individuals who are questioning their sexuality. These terms are used less frequently as they are less understood. At a federal level transgender rights are still considered in the “grey”. The article, “What’s at Stake in Transgender Discrimination as Sex Discrimination?”, states that Sex is a protected category under the Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, along with race, color, religion, and national origin. Neither transsexualism, gender identity, nor gender expression is listed as a protected category in the statue, but the federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals help the sex encompasses ‘Gender non-conforming behavior and appearance’ (Smith v. City of Salem 2004b, 571) and therefore transsexualism or transgenderism” (Kirkland 2006). The law protects those based on sex, but has yet to protect and specifically define gender equality. While those within GLBTQ are still a minority in society, gay and lesbians certainly have more acceptance, rights, and opportunities than other members of GLBTQ.
Du Bois’ theories can apply to GLBTQ because of the internal turmoil members of the community may experience.
Our society promotes heterosexism in a complex world along with negative attitudes against the more “radical” forms of sexuality and gender-identity. The “veil” can be seen in African Americans, transgender, and bisexuals. The inner conflict African Americans felt with being of African descent in America; transgender and bisexuals also feel in a similar internal battle within their community. Transgender and bisexual members may be a part of GLBTQ, but they are more complex and less accepted. Thus, they are out-casted and unable to be who they are in any community or in society as a whole. The veil they are placed under is harmful because they have no support. The “color-line” can be seen in GLBTQ as sexual orientation versus gender identity; gay and lesbians versus transgender. Du Bois’ theory explains the complexity of having to conform to a society that does not fully accept all of its
members.

References
Du Bois, W. E. B. 1903. Souls of Black Folk. Hazleton, PA: University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 7, 2016 (file:///C:/Users/My/Downloads/DuBois_SoulsBlackFolk.25365853%20(4).pdf).
Herek, G. M. 2004, April. “Beyond “Homophobia”: Thinking About Sexual Prejudice. National Sexuality Research Center, 6-24. Retrieved September 7, 2016 (https://unco.instructure.com/courses/387/files/58674/download?download_frd=1).
Kirkland, Anna. 2006. “What’s at Stake in Transgender Discrimination as Sex Discrimination?” The University of Chicago Press Journals 32(1):83–111. Retrieved September 7, 2016 (http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/505543?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents).
Weiss, Jillian Todd. 2003. “GL vs. BT.” Journal of Bisexuality 3(3-4):25–55. Retrieved September 7, 2016 (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/j159v03n03_02).