W.E.B. Du Bois was a profound intellectual and writer, deeply engaged with the rights and status of Black Americans. His seminal work urged Black individuals to assert their educational and economic rights, becoming a foundational voice in the struggle for equality. Beyond his influential essays and journalism, Du Bois was instrumental in organizing movements for civil rights and promoting Pan-Africanism on a global scale. His writings offer a powerful examination of race, identity, and freedom, leaving an indelible mark on social and literary thought.
With Souls of Black Folk (first published in 1903), W.E.B. Du Bois famously set forth his analysis of the folk culture, including religious folk culture, that would be the basis for future progress. In doing so, he pleaded for education and a new sensibility. But he made clear that the promise of these would not come 'from the outside'.