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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

“One ever feels his twoness - an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.”

Feels Two Soul Body Dark Ideals Social Justice Strive Folks African American Torn Black History Black History Month Black History Month Inspirational Two Souls African American Love Black Consciousness

Author:W. E. B. Du Bois

“The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.”

Inspirational Black Freedom Inspiring Liberty History Cost Social Justice Black History Repression Memorial Day Black History Month Black History Month Inspirational Black America Memorial Day Remembrance Black History Inspirational Black Inspirational Inspirational History

Author:W. E. B. Du Bois

“The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line.”

Problem Lines Century Color Racism Social Justice Twentieth Century Racism In America Black Racism Race And Color

Author:W. E. B. Du Bois

“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

“To the real question, How does it feel to be a problem? I answer seldom a word.”

Feels Doe Real Problem Answers Social Justice Real Questions

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

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

“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.”

“Progress in human affairs is more often a pull than a push, a surging forward of the exceptional man, and the lifting of his duller brethren slowly and painfully to his vantage-ground.”

Men Humans Progress Social Justice Affair Exceptional Lifting Brethren

Book:The Souls of Black Folk: The Oxford W. E. B. Du Bois

Source: The Souls of Black Folk: The Oxford W. E. B. Du Bois