The problem of the 20th century is the problem of the color line—the relation of the darker to the lighter races of men in Asia and Africa, in America and the islands of the sea. (Du Bois 1903/1989:13)

The Philadelphia Negro (1899) The Souls of Black Folk (1903) The Souls of White Folk (1920)

By age 16, Du Bois formulated basic premise of his social & political philosophy: Black Americans must organize as a race-conscious bloc to win & exercise freedom

 First black graduate in his high school  Four liberal white men took interest in Du Bois Paid for his college education

 Community leaders (including Du Bois’ high school principal & several prominent pastors) decided that Du Bois should attend Fisk University Historically black school in Nashville, TN  Du Bois chose Harvard

 The Souls of Black Folk, published in 1903  Most famous book  One of the most important books on race and class written in U. S.

 From the 1940s until his death in 1963  Du Bois wrote eloquently and provocatively about  The twin evils of colonialism and imperialism

 Black parents: R einforce the value of formal education  Black Church: C ombat social corruption and moral decay 

 The Talented Tenth  Burden for winning freedom and justice for African Americans  Best prepared, educationally and economically

 Motivation for creation of racial differences was economic: Racial discrimination preceded prejudice Prejudice was created to justify the treatment

 Political domination of one country by another (Ex. Britain, France, Portugal, Germany)  Created racism to justify colonialism & exploitation  Creating an inferior race justified their treatment to create profits

Colonizing nations used strategy of “divide and conquer” Encouraged hatred between groups Moslems & Hindus Arabs & Jews Protestants & Catholics

 Super Capital=Economic & political control by big business  “Big Business” should have the power created by capitalism  Developed during 1870s in U.S.

Good: Increased production & distribution of goods & services Bad: Created opportunities for more selfishness & corruption

 “Imperialism" = The process whereby the dominant politico-economic interests of one nation  Take for their own enrichment  The land, labor, raw materials, and markets of another people Africa, Asia, Latin America

 War is central to imperialist capitalism  Profit from war  Profit from the preparation for war

 Basic element in social organization  Societies based on certain group’s oppression of other groups

 3 main responses by the oppressed to oppression 1. Feelings of revolt & revenge 2. Attempts to adjust 3. Attempts at self-development

“Manure theory of social organization” Belief that lower classes o nly capable of most inhuman & inhumane work

“ Manure Theory ” foundation of a Theory of Exclusion “Progress” based on excluding more & more people from benefits of culture Result: Only a few remain at top

Changeable Not inherently good or bad

Most prejudices are learned & can be changed Change comes through reason & education

 A planned economy  Elected democratic government  People serve the state  State also serves the people

 Major Themes of Modern Social Life Race & Racism Gender & Sexism Democracy Equality