Throughout his often controversial life, W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) used a varied arsenal in his struggles against racial oppression and social injustice. Social science, as represented in his second book,
The Philadelphia Negro, was one such weapon. Du Bois’ rigorous formal education in the 1890s at Harvard University and the Friedrich-Wilhelm III Universität (Berlin) prepared him to undertake complex sociological and historical analyses. Indeed, his first book,
The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States(1896), was notable in that regard. Du Bois later became well known for his efforts at civil-rights organizing and for his essay works, such as
The Souls of Black Folk(1903). Social science, nevertheless, provided him with a crucial way to challenge White…
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Citation: Williams, Robert W.. "The Philadelphia Negro". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 March 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=7374, accessed 22 November 2024.]
