The Souls of Black Folk - Chapter 3 Analysis

In Chapter one, Du Bois conveys in his message that he is a very proud African-American and considers that fact that whites do not accept the achievements of blacks. Their achievements are not appreciated and valued by society. Du Bois gives the readers a general idea about what his life was like and how he does not respond to ignorance of the white society. He believed that the Emancipation was the best way to end slavery and a new way for blacks to overcome the issues of society. Having an education was a struggle. If blacks were thought, they were not given a textbook. They had to learn on their own. In order for Washington to have completed his dream and goal of showing the Northerners that black people were not as bad as a large majority of the Northerners made them out to be, he had to gain the Northerners respect. Washington soon then began working on getting himself an education. With this education, Mr. Booker T. Washington would be able to show all those discriminating Northerners just how sophisticated, proper, educated, and well brought up that black people could be. Washington had the requirements to gain respect and honor from the white people’s society.

Washington had to be the voice of the people and help blacks get their foot in the door. “I had thereafter no desire to tear down that veil, to creep through.” (Chapter 3) Symbolism was expressed in this quote, that white Americans are blinding the black PEOPLE from seeing the greatness of America.

The Souls of Black Folk - Chapter 1 Analysis

Society makes a huge impact on people in our world. Some of the people respects others and the rest are discriminate towards people who are surrounded by them. No one will understand how a black person experienced there life, but to walk in there shoes. In the Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois should readers his viewpoint about life in these times. He explained how his life was at that time. He also explained what blacks had to go through to get to so much. He spoke about the times before slavery, during slavery, and after (which is the present). He explained to readers what being “Black” meant in a society that viewed blacks as a contempt. In chapter 1, Du Bois gave a brief episode of himself and what he recalls during these times.

Du bois uses amazing detail in this chapter to explain what he recalls. He remembers the times when he was a young boy and what happen when he realizes life. He remembers when he was told to buy greeting cards for the boys and girls in his class for ten cents. “The exchange was merry, till one girl, a tall newcomer, refused my card… with a glance.” (Du Bois) He uses extreme detail in this quote to explain how the girl refused her card. She refused to take the card “peremptorily.” Logically if readers think about it, the color of the girl was never mentioned. He later describes, “It dawned upon me with a certain suddenness that I was different from others.” He realized that race played a big role into the life of Du Bois. His feeling towards the situation makes the tone of depression, but at the same time, he is realizing that racism is a major role in society during this time.

He also uses detail when he describes the sky. “The sky was bluest when I could beat my mates at examination…” (Du Bois) He remembers the sky or day and how it was when he was competing against his schoolmates. This is detail used to describe how he viewed each day.

W.E.B. Du Bois had to face many challenges with the people of his time and racism was key to every struggle he endured.