sumblog 7

William Edward Burghardt or W.E.B Dubois was an American social theorist on the subject of race. He has struck a fair amount of criticism from his ideals which in a way are opposite to that of Booker T. Washington, another social theorist who had a different more positive outlook on the African American community as in he pushed for education amongst all black citizens. W.E.B Du Bois wanted young African American men to be educated however he did not believe that the system would allow for the tools of education would be provided for these young men.  In Du Bois writing he expresses two key concepts of why he believes that the Black man has and will be kept as a secondary class citizen. One of these concepts is that a figurative Veil that is placed over the eyes of young eager black men willing to work hard to achieve success. “Through history, the powers of single black men flash here and there like falling stars, and die sometimes before the world has rightly gauged their brightness” (Du Bois 127). This veil dims the light of intelligent young eager men and society will not let them shine bright enough that the world can see their greatness. However, when a black man makes a discovery or is needed to assist in a fight alongside a white man, here, in this situation, we are equals and are willing to help our fellow man. This goes along with the second key concept of a double consciousness. To have double consciousness you need to be able to see a situation from either perspectives, or see how both parties think about the situation. Du Bois stats that we must not lead a conscience mind of a never ending severed and servant ideal, however take both the job of the servant and of the one being served. The one being served needs to look and see that even in the disorganization of the social structure we live in we all feel and have stressors and even when a person is labeled as a free man or woman it may not be just that easy.

This clip shows how people do not have a double consciousness, how white privileged individuals do not see a problem with this violation of rights, because they are not affected by it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riVjExRhSJQ