By: Tjura Chatman

Learning Targets

Students will be able to explain who is W.E.B DuBois, his achievements, and his philosophy today.

Students will be able to answer the questions about W.E.B DuBois towards the end of the lesson plan.

Who was W.E.B DuBois?

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois
(February 23, 1868- August 27, 1963)

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was an American sociologist, socialist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, writer, and editor (Archives Research Center).
Was an important figure in the development of African-American education and the philosophy of the 20th-century freedom movement (Archives Research Center).
First American sociologist to develop a structural analysis of social inequality (Archives Research Center).

His Achievements

(DuBois and Alpha Phi Alpha)

DuBois in the grey suit

Fisk Univerisity and Harvard educated historian and sociologist, Du Bois joined the faculty of Atlanta University in 1897. He distinguished himself and the programs at AU by conducting rigorous sociological studies, hosted conferences, and publishing extensively about the impact of slavery and class on the oppression of black people (Archives Research Center).
While at Atlanta University, Du Bois penned his seminal work, The Souls of Black Folks, which laid bare the impact of slavery and race on American society. He also founded and edited the journal, Phylon: The Atlanta University Review of Race and Culture (Archives Research Center).

His Educational Beliefs

He believed that access to educational opportunities is a fundamental right that should be provided to all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, or national origin. Too often, however, the educational experiences for Black students are significantly uneven in comparison to other demographic groups (Ford).

An Example

DuBois had many different studies for black people to show that we all need education (History.com Editors)
University of Pennsylvania

-Du Bois said that the Black community’s greatest challenges were poverty, crime, lack of education and distrust of those outside the community (History.com Editors).

'The Souls of Black Folk'

-a collection of sociological essays examining the Black experience in America (History.com Editors).

The Niagara Movement

-Du Bois joining Washington’s rivals in the Niagara Movement, charged with seeking justice and equality for African Americans (History.com Editors).

His Philosophy For Today

Then

In the decades after Emancipation, African Americans continued to work for the betterment of their communities. Education, which had been denied to so many during the era of slavery, was seen as a pathway to full citizenship and true freedom (Archives Research Center).

Now

He believed that full citizenship and equal rights for African Americans would be brought about through the efforts of an intellectual elite; for this reason, he was an advocate of a broad liberal arts education at the college level (Archives Research Center).

More Information

Let's Review

graduated from Harvard University (first black man to have a Ph.D. from there)
was an American sociologist, socialist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, writer and editor.
conducted many different studies for African Americans
was an important figure in African American education
believed that full citizenship and equal rights for African Americans

Questions

1.) Who was W.E.B DuBois?

a. Civil rights activist

b. Historian

c. Pan-Africanist

d. Sociologist

e. All the above

2.) What was something DuBois fought a lot for?

a. Abolished Alcohol

b. African American education

c. Domestic Abused

d. Veganism

Reference

Du Bois, W. (2013). A Negro Student at Harvard at the End of the 19th Century. The Massachusetts Review, 54(3), 364-380.
Ford, D. Y., Wright, B. L., Sewell, C. J., Whiting, G. W., & Moore III, J. L. (2018). The Nouveau talented tenth: Envisioning WEB Du Bois in the context of contemporary gifted and talented education. The Journal of Negro Education, 87(3), 294
History.com Editors. W.E.B. Du Bois. A&E Television Networks. October 27, 2009.

Answers

1.) E

2.) B

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