International : W. E. B. Du Bois - Research Paper Example

International Paper: W. E. B. Du Bois INTRODUCTION William Edward Burghardt aka W. E. B. Du Bois is a phenomenal in the realm of social activism in America. A veteran writer and editor W. E. B. Du Bois dedicated his entire life for the civil rights movement. Du Bois is also prominently famous as a historian, sociologist and an active Pan-Africanist. Du Bois was the first African American to procure a doctorate degree from the Harvard University. Also, from the same prestigious university Du Bois graduated and taught as a professor of history along with teaching subjects such as sociology and economics in the Atlanta University.

Du Bois’ name shall be immortal for his co-founding efforts in laying the foundation stone of the National Association for the Advancement of the Colored People (NAACP) in the year 1909. THESIS STATEMENT W.E.B. Du Bois is a remarkable name in the arena of social reform, movement and civil rights activism in America. His epoch making reforms to develop the life of the African-American community has made him immortal. This essay intends to trace the major trajectories of Du Bois’ life which contributed in framing the course of the civil rights movement and development of the Afro-American community in the United States. W. E. B. DU BOIS: A LANDMARK NAME IN THE HISTORY OF BLACK AMERICA Early life of Du Bois traces out the fact that his prominence as a leader of the national movement initiated from his active participation in the Niagara Movement.

This movement focused on the equal rights and privileges for the African American people in the United States. Du Bois mobilized a movement against Atlanta Compromise and initiated protest against lynching. From all these active movements in which Du Bois participated, provides a clear hint that the loci of Du Bois’ movement was centered around stark racism in America which he wanted to abolish (Williams, “Welcome”). Du Bois’ main strength was his education. As a prolific writer, he took the refuge of his excellent craftsmanship in writing essays, entitled “The Souls of Black Folk” which is still considered as one of the seminal works in African-American literature till date.

In 1935, Du Bois crafted the marvelous magnum opus entitled, “Black Reconstruction in America” which shook the continuing orthodoxy pertaining to the failure of the blacks during the Reconstruction era of America (Foner 82-100). As an editor, his contribution was immense as well. The journal which NAACP published entitled, “The Crisis” witnessed many influential write ups under Du Bois’ veteran guardianship and editing. Du Bois was an advocate of peace and he strongly preached for the nuclear disarmament.

Du Bois’ campaigned for many reforms for the development of the blacks in the United States and all those were included into the Civil Rights Act just after a year of Du Bois’ peaceful death in the year 1963 (Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., “Writings”). SUMMARY All through his life, W. E. B. Du Bois fought for the equal rights and liberty of the African American community in the United States. At times through his epoch making tributes by the way of his impeccable writings and at times through his indelible efforts as an activist, W. E. B.

Du Bois helped to enrich the African American community through his emphatic ventures and education that instrumented a leap of almost hundred years. Works Cited Foner, Eric. “Reconstruction Revisited.” Reviews in American History 10.4 (1982): 82-100. Print. “Writings.” Catalog. Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., 2011. Web. 10 Jul. 2013. . Williams, Robert W. Welcome. Home, 2013. Web. 10 Jul. 2013. .