The Souls of Black Folks. My Black History Month.

This post has been on my mind for quite some time. Its no secret I'm black and as a black American I look forward to learning more about the accomplishments of those before me. Its also been on my mind that I am not as aware of the blood, sweat and tears that were shed before me as I should be.  While on my clinical rotations I have been more aware of my race then ever before in my life. I constantly feel the pressures and undercurrents of race around me. To channel my feelings I've decided to touch base with the thoughts and ideas of those before me.... Hence I'm reading The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois.  ** I must add in the last year I've been on this kick of reading the works of great men.. i.e. malcolm x, nelson mandela.. etc etc.  and then forming my own opinion and respect for them :-)

W.E.B. Du Bois (quick summary)

Du Bois was born on Feb 23, 1868 in Massachusetts and was raised by his mother. Du Bois was a natural scholar and went to Fisk University in Nashville. During that time Fisk was one of the leading Universities for black people. Its amazing to me to think in the south during that time in Nashville black people went from slaves to scholars. We don't mess around :-) Anywho.. He later went to study at Harvard and studied African American History. This amazes me too! Harvard had Afircan American History back then. wow. He was the first African American to receive a Ph.D from Harvard.  In 1909 Du Bois co-founded the NAACP. Du Bois also taught history at the then Atlanta University.  I could go forever...



WHAT I HAVE LEARNED SO FAR...

What has been most interesting to me so far as I read this collection of essays originally published in 1903 is how similar many of his thoughts are to those we as "black folks" continue to feel today. Its amazing to know a feeling in your gut.. to not know quite what it is.. and then to read it so eloquently explained by a scholar from a century ago.

Here are a few of my favorite passages from the first essay called "Of Our Spiritual Strivings" 
Full Text: http://www.bartleby.com/114/1.html

The exchange was merry, till one girl, a tall newcomer, refused my card,—refused it peremptorily, with a glance. Then it dawned upon me with a certain suddenness that I was different from the others; or like, mayhap, in heart and life and longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil. I had thereafter no desire to tear down that veil, to creep through; I held all beyond it in common contempt, and lived above it in a region of blue sky and great wandering shadows. That sky was bluest when I could beat my mates at examination-time, or beat them at a foot-race, or even beat their stringy heads. Alas, with the years all this fine contempt began to fade; for the worlds I longed for, and all their dazzling opportunities, were theirs, not mine. But they should not keep these prizes, I said; some, all, I would wrest from them. Just how I would do it I could never decide: by reading law, by healing the sick, by telling the wonderful tales that swam in my head,—some way.


 The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife,—this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost. He would not Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity closed roughly in his face.


I encourage anyone looking for a scholarly read... black, white, hispanic, etc etc to consider reading The Souls of Black Folks..   Especially those who want to take a glimps into the thoughts of a man that was a major force in the Civil Rights movement and a pioneer for the civil liberties that we now enjoy. Although I'm sure DuBois would say we still have a ways to go in social equality.


THE YEAR OF THE 25!!  Its about fun, growth, identity, and experiences..
Thanks to W.E.B. DuBois... I'm going to stand a little taller tomorrow because I better understand myself and the souls of black folks.


STAY FLY!!