DuBois, William Edward Burghardt (1868-1963)
Item
Title
DuBois, William Edward Burghardt (1868-1963)
DuBois, W.E.B.
Subject
Description
W.E.B. DuBois was a famous African American scholar, writer, historian, sociologist, and Civil Rights Activist. He was one of the founding members of the NAACP.
He was the son of Mary Silvina Burghardt and Alfred DuBois. From 1892 to 1894 he traveled through Germany and became influenced by the historical work of Albert Bushnell Hart and the Philosophical work of William James.
He focused heavily on history and sociology, publishing numerous articles. He also attempted to establish journals discussing politics and ideology for a black audience. DuBois believed that African Americans should embrace their African heritage while also contributing to American society. DuBois also believed in Pan-Africanism.
DuBois along with other African American leaders founded the Niagara Movement in 1904 which militantly advocated for full civil and political rights for blacks. The movement only succeeded in 1909, when the NAACP was founded after rioting in August of 1908 in Springfield, Illinois caused a biracial conference over concerns of violence against blacks. DuBois also finally achieved his desire for a journal as he became the editor of The Crisis.
World War I caused a shift in DuBois' beliefs. He became involved in peace work. He also supported the use of Marxism to fight against racial discrimination through economic programs and institutions, which caused him to become at odds with the NAACP president. He resigned from the organization but returned in 1944. He again became at odds with the organization as he supported socialist organizations and the Progressive Party during the rise of anti-communism.
He met Nina Gomer, a student at Wilberforce University where he taught for two years, and married her in 1896.
In 1950, he married Shirley Graham after his first wife passed away. She had a child from a previous relationship, David, who took on the DuBois name. Throughout the rest of his life, he was a member of peace movements and was continually interacting with leftist and communist party organizations. In October 1961, he officially joined the American Communist Party. His support of communism put him at odds with the American government and legal system and was restricted from travel for several years. When it was lifted in 1958 and after traveling throughout communist countries in Eastern Europe and Asia he lived the rest of his life in Ghana.
He was the son of Mary Silvina Burghardt and Alfred DuBois. From 1892 to 1894 he traveled through Germany and became influenced by the historical work of Albert Bushnell Hart and the Philosophical work of William James.
He focused heavily on history and sociology, publishing numerous articles. He also attempted to establish journals discussing politics and ideology for a black audience. DuBois believed that African Americans should embrace their African heritage while also contributing to American society. DuBois also believed in Pan-Africanism.
DuBois along with other African American leaders founded the Niagara Movement in 1904 which militantly advocated for full civil and political rights for blacks. The movement only succeeded in 1909, when the NAACP was founded after rioting in August of 1908 in Springfield, Illinois caused a biracial conference over concerns of violence against blacks. DuBois also finally achieved his desire for a journal as he became the editor of The Crisis.
World War I caused a shift in DuBois' beliefs. He became involved in peace work. He also supported the use of Marxism to fight against racial discrimination through economic programs and institutions, which caused him to become at odds with the NAACP president. He resigned from the organization but returned in 1944. He again became at odds with the organization as he supported socialist organizations and the Progressive Party during the rise of anti-communism.
He met Nina Gomer, a student at Wilberforce University where he taught for two years, and married her in 1896.
In 1950, he married Shirley Graham after his first wife passed away. She had a child from a previous relationship, David, who took on the DuBois name. Throughout the rest of his life, he was a member of peace movements and was continually interacting with leftist and communist party organizations. In October 1961, he officially joined the American Communist Party. His support of communism put him at odds with the American government and legal system and was restricted from travel for several years. When it was lifted in 1958 and after traveling throughout communist countries in Eastern Europe and Asia he lived the rest of his life in Ghana.
Source
Holt, Thomas C. “W. E. B. Du Bois.” The Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, 2008.
Contributor
Birth Date
1868-02-23
Birthplace
Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA
Death Date
1963-08-27
Source of File Attached
Holt, Thomas C. “W. E. B. Du Bois.” The Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, 2008.
Collection
Citation
“DuBois, William Edward Burghardt (1868-1963),” Englewood Makes History, accessed July 6, 2024, https://englewoodmakeshistory.org/items/show/250.
