The Fighting Man.

Melissa McMahon

Journal on Du Bois

January 15 2009

"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."

In the forethought of W. E. B. Du Bois' 'The Souls of Black Folk', Du Bois brings us in with this stirring statement- a call to all who are reading to realize that 'the problem' is not with a certain person or race- the problem is with the color line. Du Bois' piece reflects his thoughts on racism and his struggle to rise above the prejudices against his skin color. Achieving much in his life, Du Bois became an amazing representation that changed many people's opinions on what could be 'expected' from a man of color.

Like Washington, Du Bois fought for his people, although their fights were taken out in different ways. A quote from wikepedia states: "In the course of his long, turbulent career, W. E. B. Du Bois attempted virtually every possible solution to the problem of twentieth-century racism— scholarship, propaganda, integration, national self-determination, human rights, cultural and economic separatism, politics, international communism, expatriation, third world solidarity."-(David Levering Lewis.) While they shared the same goal, they ultimately took different paths- Du Bois believed Washington thought their people could only survive through submission- and he heartily fights this in his 'The Souls of Black Folk.' However, no matter the argument, it cannot be denied that both men blazed trails for their people- they knocked down walls and showed the world that black men could be educated, respected, and eloquent.

Du Bois grew up in a time where the prejudices that Washington fought were still very much there. The fact that Du Bois worked extra hard to obtain his degree and shed light on the problems of the Twentieth Century is beyond inspiring. The controversial path he embarked on later in life with his involvement in the communist party pales in comparison to all he accomplished. The "fight" with Washington just proves his unrelenting passion for his people. The fact that he would have the courage to criticize a man as respected as Washington just shows how he knew the path to equality was a long and hard road- and was determined to make sure it was set upon in the right way.

In the face of controversy, Du Bois held tight to his ideals and his dreams for a united nation. Like Martin Luther King famously said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” I think it's safe to say that Du Bois was more than a man- he was a fighter.