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W. E. B. Du Bois

W. E. B. Du Bois Quotes

Historian

W. E. B. Du Bois was an influential American historian, sociologist, civil rights activist, and writer. Born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois is renowned for his advocacy for the rights of African Americans. He co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement. His seminal work, 'The Souls of Black Folk,' remains a foundational text in African American literature and thought.

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Famous W. E. B. Du Bois Quotes

“Herein lies the tragedy of the age: Not that men are poor, - all men know something of poverty. Not that men are wicked, - who is good? Not that men are ignorant, - what is truth? Nay, but that men know so little of men.”

Knows Men Littles Age Lying Culture Black Poor Poverty Knowledge Diversity Tragedy Social Justice Ignorant Wicked Black History

Author:W. E. B. Du Bois

“Here is the chance for young women and young men of devotion to lift again the banner of humanity and to walk toward a civilization which will be free and intelligent; which will be healthy and unafraid; and build in the world a culture led by black folk and joined by peoples of all colors and all races - without poverty, ignorance and disease!”

Men World Young Humanity Culture Black Chance Walks Race Poverty Ignorance Color Civilization Healthy Disease Intelligent Folks Devotion Lifts Young Man Young Women Banner Unafraid

Author:W. E. B. Du Bois

“The favorite device of the devil, ancient and modern, is to force a human being into a more or less artificial class, accuse the class of unnamed and unnameable sin, and then damn any individual in the alleged class, however innocent he may be.”

Humans May Culture Individual Force Justice Human Beings Sin Class Modern Diversity Devil Social Justice Ancient Innocent Damn Devices Artificial

Author:W. E. B. Du Bois

“Cannot the nation that has absorbed ten million foreigners into its political life without catastrophe absorb ten million Negro Americans into that same political life at less cost than their unjust and illegal exclusion will involve?”

Political Culture Nations Justice Millions Cost Ten Diversity Social Justice Illegal Unjust Catastrophe Foreigners Exclusion Political Life

Book:W. E. B. Du Bois: Selections from His Writings

Source: W. E. B. Du Bois: Selections from His Writings

“I believe in Liberty for all men: the space to stretch their arms and their souls; the right to breathe and the right to vote, the freedom to choose their friends, enjoy the sunshine, and ride on the railroads, uncursed by color; thinking, dreaming, working as they will in a kingdom of beauty and love.”

Source: Darkwater: The Givens Collection

“I believe in pride of race and lineage and self: in pride of self so deep as to scorn injustice to other selves.”

Believe Self Culture I Believe Justice Race Pride Diversity Social Justice Injustice I Believe In Scorn Lineage

Book:Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil

Source: Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil

“This the American black man knows: his fight here is a fight to the finish. Either he dies or wins. If he wins it will be by no subterfuge or evasion of amalgamation . He will enter modern civilization here in America as a black man on terms of perfect and unlimited equality with any white man, or he will enter not at all. Either extermination root and branch, or absolute equality. There can be no compromise. This is the last great battle of the west.”

“Unless modern civilization is a failure, it is entirely feasible and practicable for two races in such essential political, economic and religious harmony as the white and colored people in America, to develop side by side in peace and mutual happiness, the peculiar contribution which each has to make to the culture of their common country.”

Source: The Problem of the Color Line at the Turn of the Twentieth Century: The Essential Early Essays