With its horrendous legacy, slavery was one of the most abhorrent blights on the face of humankind. Even though it has been over a century since it was abolished, it still echoes in the lives of numerous people as discrimination and racism remain rampant in modern society (Nieman 3). In his book, DuBois provided a poignant and prominent description of the experiences of African American people. Questioning the idea of a nonviolent protest like the one that not only slows down the fight for human rights but also undermines its legitimacy by not confronting white supremacism, the book encourages the idea of an uninhibited movement that seeks to achieve dignity and freedom at all costs. Despite the questionable nature of the very concept of fighting violence with a different kind of violence, the book conveys a powerful message about the necessity to confront injustice and not to lose hope in the face of adversity.
What makes “The Souls of Black Folk” especially nuanced and poignant is its ability to contemplate the issues of racism and discrimination not only in the social but also economic and political contexts, which leads to a proper understanding of the complexity of the issue and shows why it remains so deeply engrained in the framework of social interactions. Demonstrating how the specified domains interplay and how they reinforce racist ideas and stereotypes, DuBois emphasizes the need to fight discrimination and racism as forms of systemic oppression, which suggests the application of vocal protests. Therefore, the ability to develop a nuanced analysis of the subject at hand while keeping the focus on the needs of the target vulnerable group is one of the main strengths of the book. DuBois manages to appeal to the emotions of his readers while arguing his point eloquently and convincingly.
Moreover, the idea of representing the main thesis of the book through a collection of lived experiences of African American people described in a raw, unfiltered, and, thus, very emotional and passionate manner made the book especially powerful. “The Souls of Black Folk” gives an insight into the challenges that a marginalized group has to face, therefore, outlining the necessity to fight for the rights of African American people by any means necessary (Bagwell). The book outlines the divide between the white population and the African American one as the main problem to fight against: “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line” (DuBois 32). As a result, the book leaves a tremendous impact on the reader, calling to action and emphasizing the necessity to fight against adversity and promoting the emancipation of the African American population.
Although the idea of using violence to fight racism and discrimination could be considered controversial, the book by DuBois sends a crucial message of remaining strong, united, and motivated even in extremely harsh circumstances. The idea of emancipation that DuBois established in his book has provided the basis for the future development of the liberation movement of the African American community. Therefore, “The Souls of Black Folk” has retained its vital meaning and essential message. Outlining the grassroots of the African American liberation movement, the book still holds tremendous weight as a repository of ideas and concepts that create the backbone for the movement for equality and social justice. Therefore, “The Souls of Black Folk” is as relevant today as it was at the time of its writing, and it is likely to stay just as important in the future.
Work Cited
Bagwell, Orlando. Roots of Resistance: A Story of the Underground Railroad, 1990, Web.
Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt. The Souls of Black Folk. Oxford University Press, 2008.
Nieman, Donald G. Promises to Keep: African Americans and the Constitutional Order, 1776 to the Present. Oxford University Press, 2020.