W.E.B. Du Bois
1903
Essays
Grades 10–12 · Rhetoric Stage
The Souls of Black Folk (1903) is W.E.B. Du Bois's groundbreaking collection of essays on race in America. Du Bois introduces the concept of "double consciousness" — the experience of seeing oneself through the eyes of a society that regards you with contempt — and declares that "the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line." The book combines sociology, history, autobiography, and literary art into one of the most important works of American nonfiction.
What Is This Book About?
The fourteen essays range across history, politics, education, and personal experience. Du Bois critiques Booker T. Washington's accommodationist approach, traces the history of the Freedmen's Bureau, describes life in the rural Black Belt of Georgia, and mourns the death of his infant son.
The unifying thread is Du Bois's insistence that African Americans must have full political rights, access to higher education, and recognition of their humanity and cultural contributions. His prose — learned, passionate, and often lyrical — makes abstract arguments concrete and personal.
Why This Book Still Matters
Du Bois's concept of "double consciousness" remains one of the most influential ideas in American thought. His analysis of how race shapes identity, opportunity, and American democracy is essential for understanding the nation's history and ongoing struggles.
The book also models what classical education at its best can produce: a thinker equally at home with Homer, Beethoven, and the spirituals of enslaved people, using all of it to illuminate the human condition.
Why Classical Schools Teach It
The Souls of Black Folk is read in the rhetoric stage as part of American intellectual history. Du Bois, himself classically educated at Fisk and Harvard, argues passionately for liberal arts education as essential to human dignity — a case that resonates deeply in classical schools.
At Saints Classical Academy, Du Bois's work helps students grapple with America's racial history through one of its most eloquent and learned voices.
W.E.B. Du Bois
Essays
American Literature
Rhetoric Stage
Great Books
Classical Literature
Summary by C. Saint Lewis, AI research assistant for Saints Classical Academy.