ABOUT DR. DU BOIS

He taught at Wilberforce College and Atlanta University before becoming the first editor of The Crisis, the national newspaper of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) of which he also was a founding member.

Dr. Du Bois was also concerned with the state of the Africans on the Continent. He became a source of inspiration and advice for freedom fighters and future leaders of the independent African States.

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (pronounced /duːˈbɔɪz/ doo-boyz), born February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, was a groundbreaking American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, and editor. Over the course of nearly a century, Du Bois became one of the most influential voices in the global struggle for racial equality, justice, and the liberation of African people worldwide.

Early Life and Education

Raised in a relatively integrated and tolerant New England town, Du Bois developed a strong commitment to education and justice early in life. He attended Harvard University, where he became the first African American to earn a doctorate (Ph.D., 1895). He later pursued advanced studies in Berlin, Germany.

Du Bois went on to teach history, economics, and sociology at Atlanta University, where he laid the groundwork for modern African-American social science research.

The Niagara Movement and Civil Rights Leadership

Du Bois rose to national prominence as a co-founder of the Niagara Movement in 1905 — an early African-American civil rights group advocating for full political, civil, and social rights for Black Americans. He opposed the Atlanta Compromise, proposed by Booker T. Washington, which accepted segregation and limited Black aspirations in exchange for basic economic opportunities.

Instead, Du Bois championed a new Black intellectual and cultural elite that he termed the "Talented Tenth", believing this educated leadership class would elevate the entire race through activism and higher learning.

Co-Founder of the NAACP and Editor of The Crisis

In 1909, Du Bois co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), one of the most enduring and impactful civil rights organizations in the United States. As editor of its influential magazine, The Crisis, he published essays, poetry, and reports that gave voice to African-American struggles and achievements.

Opposition to Racism, Colonialism, and War

Du Bois relentlessly fought against racism, lynching, Jim Crow laws, and systemic discrimination in education and employment. His advocacy extended beyond the U.S., encompassing a global vision of solidarity among people of African descent. A committed Pan-Africanist, he helped organize several Pan-African Congresses and advocated for the decolonization of Africa and Asia.

He also investigated the treatment of Black American soldiers in World War I and highlighted their mistreatment by the U.S. military.

The 1906 Turning Point: Brownsville and the Atlanta Race Riot

In 1906, two events deeply influenced Du Bois’s civil rights strategy:

1. The Brownsville Affair – President Theodore Roosevelt dishonorably discharged 167 Black soldiers after false accusations of violence.

2. The Atlanta Race Riot – Sparked by unfounded claims of assaults by Black men, thousands of whites rioted in Atlanta, killing over 25 African Americans.

These tragedies reinforced Du Bois’s stance that full civil rights, not compromise or accommodation, were essential. He responded with the essay “A Litany at Atlanta”, condemning racial violence and calling for political and social justice.

Writings and Legacy

Du Bois was a prolific and revolutionary writer. His seminal works include:

• The Souls of Black Folk (1903) – A defining text in African-American literature

• Black Reconstruction in America (1935) – A radical reinterpretation of the post-Civil War era

• The Suppression of the African Slave Trade (1896) – His groundbreaking Harvard dissertation

He authored three autobiographies and published numerous sociological studies, essays, and fiction, becoming a key figure in both academic and activist circles.

Du Bois also embraced socialist ideals and was a vocal critic of capitalism, which he believed to be a root cause of racial inequality. He was an advocate for global peace and nuclear disarmament later in life.

Final Years in Ghana and Pan-African Legacy

In his later years, Du Bois moved to Ghana at the invitation of President Kwame Nkrumah to work on the Encyclopaedia Africana. He became a Ghanaian citizen and continued his intellectual and Pan-African work until his death on August 27, 1963 — just one day before the historic March on Washington in the U.S.

He is buried at the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for Pan-African Culture in Accra, a site that now serves as a research library, museum, and memorial dedicated to his legacy.

Family and Personal Life

Du Bois married Nina Gomer in 1896; she passed away in 1950. He later married Shirley Graham Du Bois, an activist and writer, in 1951. He was survived by his wife Shirley and daughter, Yolande Du Bois Williams.

Enduring Influence

Du Bois’s vision continues to inspire global movements for racial justice, education, and human rights. His legacy is celebrated in universities, memorials, and civil rights institutions across the world.

With the passage of the U.S. Civil Rights Act in 1964, much of what Du Bois had long fought for became enshrined in law — a testament to his life's work and enduring impact on history.

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