Darkwater Paper

Darkwater Paper

W.E.B. Du Bois confronted the tough, controversial matters of his time. Many would characterize him as one of men who got the Civil Rights Movement moving. He played his part in this revolution by bringing to light the problem that the United States has always had to deal with; Racism. Du Bois uses the idea of worldview to bring a sense of enlightenment and reason to the typically explosively emotional realm of racial conflict. In particular he uses the Christian worldview as a way of explaining how we can deal with racism. Du Bois worldview stems from idea of peace and understanding. He believed that we could solve the racism issues in our country without separation and without a revolution; he had faith in the system already in place. Unlike other Civil Rights leaders, such as Malcolm X, Du Bois did not believe that separating in the a “Black State” or violence could solve the deep-seated racism in the US. It says a lot about a man’s character, and worldview, he believes that societal healing and understanding can take the place of violent displays and isolation. In place of a violent riot Du Bois uses his literary work Darkwater: Voices From Within the Veil to spread his personal worldview. Darkwater is particularly unique because it is not simply one style of writing but rather a collection of several different genres of writing, including narratives, poems, fables, essays and apocalyptic writing.

Du Bois defines a major part of his worldview on page one. "I believe in God, who made of one blood all nations...I believe that all men, black and brown and white, are brothers...alike in soul and the possibility of infinite development" (1). Like most people now Du Bois takes the stand that all people are in fact created equal. It’s a statement we’ve used in this country since the very beginning, but like many things it’s easier said then done. Throughout the course of our country’s brief history we’ve explained our racism many different ways. From saying “o well they are as �human’ as we are”, to the idea of separate but equal. We see very clearly that Du Bois worldview consist of the deeply Christian aspect that we are all creatures made by God and not only did God make men and women, but that he also made black and white men and black and white women. Du Bois further shows the Christian base of his worldview in the fable-like section “The Princess of the Hither Isles”. He depicts a princess who must chose between the world of white men, and the world of black men. The world of white men is presented as a very rich splendorous place. But this world, much like the US in this time, was shallow and empty, without and meaning. The princess therefore chooses the world of the black man, which is presented as a world of poverty and sacrifice. However, this world shows a wholeness, which we see through a black beggar when he spreads out arms, a profoundly Christ-like gesture. In the closing of the story the princess says "I seek the sun" (46) and then, after being wounded by the white man, leaps into the "great nothingness". This is very symbolic not only of the what we