Dubois - Theorist That Interest Me

Jeffrey Moberg

Sociology 321

Essay #4

Theorist that Interest Me

        Dubois was an interesting man who grew up in the era of racism and discrimination. The piece that he wrote that I found most interesting was “The Souls of Black Folks”. He describes throughout this piece the struggle African Americans went through back when they were looked down upon because of their skin color. Everyone is the same no matter the skin color or physical features, but yet the idea of racism is still in effect today. People use skin as a way of categorizing people. Throughout this paper I will talk about what “The Souls of Black Folks” is about, why the theorist appealed to me and is the theorists applicable to today society.

        Du Bois uses “The Souls of Black Folks” to get his message of what it was like throughout the Jim Crow era to people of today’s age. Racism and discrimination were a huge factor in life back then. African Americans were treated totally different then those of the white race because of their skin color. Things such as different bathrooms, water fountains, and places to eat were all things that were divided based on race. They were looked down upon and ultimately treated like savages from whites. In the piece it says, “One ever feels his two-ness,--an American , a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two reconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength lone keeps it from being torn asunder” (Du Bois [1903] 2012, p. 405). This is basically saying that they live in two worlds where they are not accepted as fully American and where their African American heritage is denied. The African American race faces constant discrimination. He also says, “It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at ones self through the eyes of others, of measuring ones soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity”  (Du Bois [1903] 2012, p. 405). This shows that no matter what they do, everyone around them will always despise them and not treat them normal all because of their skin color. As it’s stated in the title, “souls”, people treat them like they have no soul or heart and in order to stay true to themselves, they have to stick together and look for greater good in the world. He goes on to state, “They approach me in a half-hesitant sort of way, eye me curiously or compassionately, and then instead of saying directly, How does it feel to be a problem? They say, I know an excellent colored man in my town” (Du Bois [1903] 2012, p. 405). It’s the idea that people don’t see African Americans as to be good people and all they do is cause problems because of their skin color. People use the excuse of, “there’s an African American, he/she must be causing problems”, when in all reality they are the same as everyone else in society. People are so quick to judge and categorize blacks as criminals, when every race of different skin colors cause crime.

        Du Bois appealed to me because he took a personal standpoint to his work and conveyed a message that sticks within a person when reading. I didn’t grow up in the era of racism and discrimination, so it’s interesting to me to read about stories and different point of views from people who have lived through it and experienced it first hand. Du Bois uses words and phrases throughout his piece that catch ones eye and makes you think and reread it so that it makes sense. Having to reread and think about what he is trying to say is what really makes me understand the message he is conveying and the passion he has for being African American. Throughout the first few paragraphs he talks about being proud of who he is as a person and that being an African American in a world of whites is something he should be proud of and that he wouldn’t change for anymore because he feels that his race can make a difference in the world when nobody else thinks it could. Du Bois is out to prove this to the world and that’s what really caught my eye. He knows that his race is looked down upon but he doesn’t let that get to him, he stands strong and uses it as a way to educate the world of the good the African American race can do for the world.