W.E.B. Du Bois said, on the launch of his groundbreaking 1903 treatise The Souls of Black Folk, “for the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line”—a prescient statement. Setting out to show to the reader “the strange meaning of being black here in the dawning of the Twentieth Century,” Du Bois explains the meaning of the emancipation, and its effect, and his views on the role of the leaders of his race. Herein lie buried many things which if read with patience may show the strange meaning of being black here in the dawning of the Twentieth Century. This meaning is not without interest to you, Gentle Reader; for the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line.
Du Bois continues to be significant in the 21st century, as noted by Madeline Sneed, a former student of mine at Baylor University. She saw this while walking across campus.
Is there supposed to be an image with this post, Carson? If so, it’s not displaying correctly…
Interesting. OK. I am on the fix now. Thanks.
This is fascinating. Where on Baylor’s campus is this? Anyone know the story behind Du Bois having a place etched in stone at Baylor?