W.E.B. Du Bois
W.E.B. Du Bois (William Edward Burghardt Du Bois) was born on February 23rd, 1868. W.E.B. passed away August 27th, 1963 at 95 years old. W.E.B. Du Bois was born in Great Barrington, MA, USA. Du Bois attended Fisk University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and Harvard University where he received an AB degree and a PhD degree. He also attended Friedrich Wilhelm University.
W.E.B. Du Bois was a leading activist, sociologist, author, editor, and historian from the United States whose work went beyond identity, politics, and race.
A powerful voice for racial justice and civil rights, Du Bois was among the founders of the influential NAACP. He was the editor of
The Crisis, its influential magazine, for 24 years, and used it in the promotion of social change, Black Pride, and activism.
Early on, Du Bois was a believer in social studies and scientific research as a weapon against racism. He did pioneering sociological investigations into the lives of African Americans during this time.
Once he dealt with the violent and deep realities of racism, he decided to adopt political activism as a strategy. He started challenging Booker T. Washington’s accommodationist philosophies, as he argued for agitation and protest as the only way to achieve justice.
W.E.B. Du Bois promoted Pan Africanism and helped promote African Unity and organize Pan African Congresses. As a cultural leader and editor, he encouraged Black writers and artists to resist racial stereotypes and celebrate their cultural heritage.
Later in his career, W.E.B. Du Bois started turning to Marxist and socialist ideas and was at some point accused of working with the Communists. By 1961, he was so disillusioned with the United States that he moved to Ghana, where he became a citizen.
In 1959, W.E.B. Du Bois published the work
Mansart Builds a School where he told the story of a Black educator named Manuel Mansart.
Very early on, Mansart is made the administrator of Atlanta-based Negro schools and immediately begins to fight politics and prejudice. Ultimately, he builds a school and rises through the ranks to end up as the president of a college.
Using fiction, the author paints a picture of the many challenges Black teachers and students faced and how they can get rid of their oppression through education and leadership.
In
Worlds of Color, Du Bois once again follows Manuel Mansart, who is now a sixty-year-old college president facing some very massive challenges.
The author explores the social conflict, political drama, mansions of power, and romance that Black civilization and culture had promised. Mansart has to deal with faded dreams and outsider threats as society grows more skeptical and darker.
Du Bois then wraps up the story within a poetic but bleak vision of the future.
W.E.B. Du Bois published his first nonfiction work,
The Philadelphia Negro, in 1899.
In the work, he explored African American life, particularly in the Seventh Ward of Philadelphia during the late 1890s. He lived in the ward and had more than 5000 interviews with residents as he gathered information on crime, jobs, churches, homes, schools, and health.
From his data, he came up with statistics, charts, and maps that showed the Negro challenge was not a lack of character but rather about discrimination, unequal opportunity, and historical injustice.
W.E.B. Du Bois: Awards & Accolades
Du Bois' books have won multiple awards, A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora won the World Fantasy Award, Anthology, in 2001. The Gift of Black Folk and Other Writings won the Audie Award, Faith-based Fiction and Nonfiction Award, in 2022.
W.E.B. Du Bois books have also been nominated for multiple awards, Reading the Bones was nominated for the World Fantasy Award, Anthology, in 2005 as well as the World Fantasy Award - Anthology in 2005.
W.E.B. Du Bois: Lists & Other Mentions
- The Souls of Black Folk:
- Book Riot: 25 of the Best Nonfiction Books of All Time Selection in 2022.
- Reader's Digest: 50 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time Selection in 2024.
Related Authors
Fans of W.E.B. Du Bois also enjoy these authors:
- George Orwell, author of: 1984.
- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
- John Steinbeck, author of: Of Mice and Men.
- Madeleine L'Engle, author of the Time Quintet Graphic Novels.
- Khaled Hosseini, author of: The Kite Runner.
W.E.B. Du Bois: F.A.Q
When was W.E.B. Du Bois Born?
W.E.B. Du Bois was born on February 23rd, 1868.
When did W.E.B. Du Bois die?
W.E.B. Du Bois died on August 27th, 1963 at 95 years old.
Where was W.E.B. Du Bois Born?
W.E.B. Du Bois was born in Great Barrington, MA, USA.
What book awards has W.E.B. Du Bois won?
A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora: World Fantasy Award: Anthology (2001).
The Gift of Black Folk and Other Writings: Audie Award: Faith-based Fiction and Nonfiction Award (2022).
What was the first book W.E.B. Du Bois wrote?
The first book written by W.E.B. Du Bois was The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study, published in 1899.
What was the most recent book W.E.B. Du Bois wrote?
His most recently released work was Dark Water: Voices from within the Veil on December 27th, 2022.
What is the most popular book by W.E.B. Du Bois?
Based on the number of readers on Book Notification, the most popular W.E.B. Du Bois book is
The Souls of Black Folk. Here are his most popular books and their average ratings:
- The Souls of Black Folk (8.00)
- The Gift of Black Folk and Other Writings (7.33)
- The Comet (8.00)
- Dark Water: Voices from within the Veil (8.00)
How many books has W.E.B. Du Bois written?
W.E.B. Du Bois has written 27 books across 10 series and categories, excluding contributions to anthologies.
- 3 books in The Black Flame Trilogy Series
- 2 Standalone Novels
- 1 Short Stories/Novella
- 19 Non-Fiction Books
- 1 book in the Black Flame Series
- 1 book in the American Philosophy Series