W.E.B. DuBoisOnline version W.E.B. DuBois by Jefferson County ESC 1 Educate and Agitate After graduating Harvard, he went on to teach sociology at Atlanta University. He thought that the way to end racism was through education and political equality. He came to the conclusion that “agitation” was the most effective way to end racism. “Agitation” meant being vocal and shaking things up, rather than quietly accepting things as they are.This theory directly opposed Booker T. Washington, who believed forgiveness, hard work, and economic success would lead to racial equality. Because of their conflicting ideas, they became bitter rivals. 2 "The Souls of Black Folk" Du Bois’s book, “The Souls of Black Folk,” published in 1903, lays out his views on the experience of African Americans, and their path to equality. Du Bois believed that everyone should have the right to vote, the right to a good education, and equality under the law. His book is considered one of the most important works in African-American history and the field of sociology. 3 "The Crisis" W.E.B. Du Bois started the Niagara Movement and later became a co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He was the Director of Publications and Research and edited the organization’s magazine, “The Crisis.” During WWI he wrote seething articles about the state of the country, including “Returning Soldier,” an article about African-American soldiers returning to a country they helped defend.During this time, subscription to the magazine went from 1,000 in 1909 to 10,000 in 1919. Many young African-Americans saw him as the voice of their community until the 1930’s. 4 Later Years In the 1950’s he was targeted by the FBI for his involvement with the Communist Party. He moved to Ghana in Africa at the age of 93 and renounced his American citizenship. He died in 1963, on the eve of the historic March on Washington. A year after he died, Congress passed The Civil Rights Act of 1964 which included many of the reforms he had called for more than fifty years earlier.
New game