Looking Back to Look Forward: Suggested Reading – The Souls of Black Folk

Born on February 23, 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, W. E. B. Du Bois was an American socialist, author, and activist who was the most important black protest leader in the United States during the first half of the 20th century.

In his book, "The Souls of Black Folk" written in 1903, Dr. Du Bois says, “The problem of the twentieth century is the color line.”

The book is an interesting series of stories that portray how black people see themselves through their own eyes and through the eyes of white people. While discussing the progress of the African American post slavery, Dr. Du Bois also suggests that education, voting, and self-assertion were major factors in the progression of Negros during that time.

In my mind, the words of W. E. B. Du Bois are just as relevant and important as they were over 100 years ago.

Black History Challenge: Read more to learn more about how our past can propel our future.

Looking Back to Look Forward: Suggested Reading –The Souls of Black Folk.