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.

 During his time as the editor of Crisis, wrote several more books.  Historians & biographers believe Du Bois was not an easy man with whom to work.  Known to be stubborn, aristocratic, arrogant, and demanding.  From the 1940s until his death in 1963, Du Bois wrote eloquently and provocatively about the twin evils of colonialism and imperialism.

 Du Bois criticized black community  Black parents for not sufficiently reinforcing the value of formal education  Black Church for not combating social corruption and moral decay 

 The Talented Tenth  Burden for winning freedom and justice for African Americans on the shoulders of best prepared, educationally and economically

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

 Who should have the power created by capitalism? Workers?– No! Labor Unions?—No! Big business?—Yes!  “Super-Capital”  Economic & political control by big business  Developed during the 1870s in the US

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

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

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

 Colonizing nations used the strategy of “divide and conquer”  Encouraged hatred between groups ( e.g., Moslems & Hindus; Arabs & Jews; Protestants & Catholics)

 Make profits by exporting surplus capital to undeveloped countries  Connected with colonialism  Political domination could be costly to colonial power  Allowing capitalists to dominate the imperial power & the colonies produced huge profits Imperialist capitalism

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

 A basic element in social organization  Societies organized based on some 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”  Lower classes viewed as only capable of the most inhuman & inhumane work

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

Changeable Not inherently good or bad Most prejudices are learned & can be changed Change comes about through reason & education

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