W. E. B. Du Bois

During the mid twentieth century, racism began to climax in the United States. Tensions of racial differences erupted. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. solidified his position as leader of the African Americans and the struggle for equality. King spoke at many rallies and events. The most notable being his “I Have a Dream” speech. This speech remains one of the most powerful and influential speeches in history. King gave the speech on August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial. King attracted nearly…

An American minster who led the Civil Rights Movement famously said, “One day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed… that all men are created equal”, that man is known as Martin Luther King Jr. Similar to kings’ beliefs on equality stood Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes was an American poet and social activist whose poetic themes targeted African American Culture, furthermore bringing about his conurbations to the Harlem Renaissance. Two of his poems titled, “Harlem”…

“Invisible Man” is a novel written during the 1930’s. Written by a black author, Ralph Ellison, it could be seen as an attempt to illuminate the invisibility pertaining to the social difficulties faced by blacks. Central to this attempt are the motifs of invisibility and blindness. Ellison demonstrates these different, physical and mental states on different levels through allegories depicting the real acts of savage black people were subjected to. In this essay I will discuss how Ellison…

The Appeal of Black Folk Did David Walker’s Appeal influence the work of W.E.B. Dubois? What kind of themes are prominent in both of their works? William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was born in 1968 in Massachusetts (Jarrett 909). He was the first African American to graduate from his high school. Later, he attended Fisk University, Harvard University (where he was the first African American to achieve a PhD), and University of Berlin. Dubois created the American Negro Academy and wrote many essays…

Morrison has created memorable African American characters who struggled to live their lives as full individuals with their triumphs and tragedies. Her characters overcome the brutality of slavery, racial and economic oppression and sexism; they depend on their own inner strengths, spirituality and love of their African American culture. In her writings, Morrison shows the invisible bonds of the African American community. According to Morrison, her characters go through difficult circumstances.…

Langston Hughes is an African American novelist and a social activist who demonstrates the conflict black Americans often encounter through his eloquent writing. Hughes has written numerous stories that acknowledges the discrimination in America, and his short story “Home” is a prime example of his moving work. “Home” follows an ill black violinist, Roy Williams, who returns back home to the United States after a brief stay in Europe. Unfortunately, he returned to his small southern hometown…

B.Ananda Rao M.A,M.Phil,(Ph.D) Asst.Prof, of English Sri Vasavi Engg College, Tadepalligudem. “A study of tradition and culture in the selected plays of Wole Soyinka and Girish karnad”. INTRODUCTION Wole Soyinka is the first African writer to win the Nobel…

chapters. In these essays, Du Bois brings to center stage a spectrum of issues that African Americans faced in everyday life, such as the color-line, “The Veil,” and the continuation of racism and inequality. The Souls of Black Folk offers the reader a primary source of the African American condition during Du Bois’s lifetime, and helps with understanding their career struggles as well. African American musicians…

Ever Since the United States was founded in the 18th century; Americans have represented them selves not only by their religious and ethnic identity but also by the individual freedom they deserve and common everyday rights. The United States of America has been through history for more than two hundred years and has changed a ton ever since the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4th in the year of 1776. America has over came a long journey with many bumps in the road but the cause…

Reconstruction: Revolutionary or Rotten? There is no doubt that the final outcome of the Reconstruction Era could have been argued as both a success and failure. Its successes may have been seen through the political changes and major constitutional amendments, while it could be disputed that its failures of the non-permanency of political changes and immoral practices trumped the attempts made during the period. In the words of Eric Foner, “[Reconstruction was] an unfinished Revolution,”…