Du Bois Contribution to a Sociological Understanding of Race - Essay Example

DU BOIS CONTRIBUTION TO A SOCIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF RACE By Du Bois has a great history in the sociology field. During the first half of the 20th Century, he created the National Association for the Advancement of the Coloured People (NAACP). Although, he had much knowledge and trained in history, he devoted himself to sociological issues and focused on the blacks. He explored the social field because he believed that it would solve the race problem. He also emphasized on value-free social science where he looked at the social world with an angle of the minority groups in the society. Du Bois emphasized on the local practices and knowledge. Thus, the essay critically assesses Du Bois contribution to a sociological understanding of race. The systematic study of human groups and systematic study is referred to as sociology. The study mainly focuses on the how social relations influence people’s actions and behaviours. In sociology, there are topics of schools, political parties, business firms, genetic engineering, and labour unions. De Bois believed that sociological study is an empowering tool that enables people to change their culture and know how they should relate with one another. De Bois viewed the society through segmentation of the population. Different groups of people are influenced by certain people in their decision-making process (Calhoun 2007, p. 52). Subsequently, Du Bois believed that sociological knowledge is necessary for conducting research for assisting the society in racialism. Additionally, through the use of sociology, it would help him to assist in the struggle for a racial free society. Knowledge in this case was very essential to achieving tolerance, justice, and combating prejudice (Calhoun 2007, p. 53). The study of the behaviour of the people helped him learn the social problems experienced by the blacks so as to separate the social problems experienced by the blacks in the United States. He studied the behaviour of the blacks and whites both in rural and urban areas. Du Bois focused on different areas in the study of sociology such as political, religion, economic, and cultural implications of the people. He believed that such factors resulted in the achievement of the goals set by the members of the society. He did like the fact that the whites focused more on racism and did not want to involve the blacks in some of their activities. The black society had a limitation in some of the areas in the society (Zuckerman 2004, p. 53). They were not allowed to perform some of the most important activities, and they were not given the chance to face life in a certain perspective. They were seen as people who did not have value in the society. As a result of this, Du Bois wanted to understand and come up with remedies to do away with racism. Through Du Bois study, he pointed out that racism was the primary culprit that made the Blacks not to progress in their activities. He also said that the Blacks did not progress because they were not ready to present themselves to use the resources available. The black were identified as people who were supposed to be ignored and stigmatized, most of the time they were labelled as the source of problems. Du Bois used qualitative and qualitative, secular and sacred ways to determine the oppression of the blacks. Through his research, he learned how he was supposed to deal with some of the problems which were facing the Africans. Racial segregation had to be dealt up with studying the cultural implications of the people and how they affected the well-being of the people (Zuckerman 2004, p. 52). Subsequently, through the sociology study, Du Bois brought out that although the blacks faced a lot of problems as a result of segregation, their souls remained intact and they were ready to fight each and every day to attain equality. Du Bois brought out the social problems that the blacks faced and defined ways in which they were supposed to deal with them. The blacks faced a lot of harshness from the whites, but they were optimistic that one day they would triumph. Du Bois made sure that he explored, explained, predicted the social issues and defined the ways of dealing with the social ill. He believed that the delivery of the people was the key that would enable them to feel that they are free from colonialism (Smith 2011, p. 52). In relation to racism, Du Bois emphasized on the deleterious effects that racism had in the lives of the black people. Most of the blacks were enslaved, and they lived a miserable life under slavery. During the 20th century, racism and discrimination issue were clear. They resulted in the separation of different spheres of life, economic disenfranchisement, physical abuse, and paternalism. Some of the consequences of racism were less visible, such as self-doubt, conflicted identity, self-hate, self-reliance, and lack of industriousness. The blacks felt that their identity was diminished, and they were not given the chance to express their feelings. Their dreams were shattered because blacks believed that whites could not come up with industrious ideas(Mackee 2003, p.14). In Du Bois view, racism was the primary reason for the conflicting relationship between the blacks and whites. The problems of racism greatly affected the black people, and they were unable to relate freely with the people around them. Racism also left the entire nation without the deficient human qualities in which a nation is supposed to be built up. The humanistic values, determine how a society is supposed to relate with one another. They also ensure that people live together in unity and harmony(Baltzell 2006, p.32). The culture of a given society is built on the social values which determine how people are supposed to relate to one another. Racism promotes segregation making the society grow in a negative way because people do not have the respect for one another. Du Bois recognized the fact that there was diversity. However, he emphasized that the human society is supposed to thrive to fellowship with one another regardless of the people’s culture or background. People are supposed to be ready to associate and appreciate one another, regardless of their roots and culture. Human beings are supposed to be ready to address the social problems because of the intrinsic value of the society and the humanity. Racism should not be a factor that keeps people apart, forcing them not to relate well with one another. Dealing with the social problems is a key to the success of a nation (Conyers 2005, p. 23). Ideally, Du Bois established the causes of different problems in the society relating it to sociology. He examined the implications of racism and how they had adverse effects in the lives of the black people. Some of the evident features that resulted from racism included segregation in the urban areas, poverty, and economic inequality. There were other forms of racism that came up during that period, which included aversive racism, which mainly focused on subtle discrimination of the blacks and egalitarian attitudes (Du 2001, p. 25). During that period, race greatly mattered in terms of access to some of the opportunities, quality of life, and access to services and institutions. Racism made the blacks live a miserable life, and they did not understand their value in the society. Their social life was disoriented and most of them did not understand or know their place in the modern society. In the education sector, there were educated men and women in the society, but they were not given the chance to be in leadership positions because they were black. Du Bois did not love the fact that black people were not given a chance to be in the leadership positions and most of them faced a lot of challenged. There was a need to have black leaders who would present the black race in the parliament and shout out their grievances. The whites did not recognize the fact that the blacks were supposed to have a position on the matters regarding the state. With time, the Blacks had to fight for their leadership rights so that they would be recognized and given the leadership positions. Through the leadership positions, they would represent all the Blacks grievances, and they would feel that they are part of the larger society (Grigorenko 2013, p. 36). Primarily, the key success to the Blacks against racial segregation was education. According to Du Bois, education played a very crucial role among the members of the society. Education was the key to success and would open the Blacks people’s eyes, and they would explore different parts of the nation. The Blacks had to understand their position in all the matters of the country and understand how they should fight for their rights. Through education, they would know how they are supposed to acquire wealth and become better people in the society. Du Bois believed that education would equalize them to the whites and they would acquire some of the positions they always longed (Driver & Green 2006, p. 35). In different occasions, Du Bois pointed out that education was the means to character development and the mobility of the blacks. He concluded this through the study of white and blacks’ social lives. The Whites seemed to thrive in their activities because of the education which they had and the way they viewed different situations in life. Du Bois clearly said that there was a need for diverse education for both Whites and Blacks(Bush 2011, p.23). After the Blacks had obtained education, they had limited options for job placement after completion. Offering a diverse education system for the whites offered them a chance to get exposed to different areas leading to their personal development. According to Du Bois, the segregation on the basis of race was the primary course of the problem of the color line. He discovered that the goal of the African Americans was the absorption of the white America. He called the Africans to come together and form a group which would fight for equality. The main matters to be addressed on equality were the equal provision of institutions and facilities. He advised Americans to unite around their race, although he did not promote any form of segregation(Lemert 2012, p.64). His aim was the provision of equal and better services in institutions. Consequently, the concept of double consciousness occupied a very important part in the study of the theory of race. Du Bois discovered that the veil was the imaginary barrier that separated the black and the whites. He believed that his sociological work would help the whites to understand what the blacks experienced in America. The blacks come into conflict as they tried to preserve and cultivate their racial identity and at the same time fit in the whites’ society. The tension of being black manifesteditself in the pathologies of the black community and also the discrimination of Africans in America (Dodge 2005, p.21). Ideally, social class and economics play a large role in the career of Du Bois. He later began to view racism as a consequence of the capitalist mode of production. He believed that the economic success of the black would erase the color line. Additionally, Du Bois believed that emphasize in economic success would dismiss some of the areas that the whites emphasized on such morality, education, and leadership(Du 2008, p.52). As a result of that, he advocated for the Marxian revolution which emphasized on capitalism. Africans were to ensure that they develop economically so that they can equalize themselves with the whites and do away with the color line. According to Du Bois, sociology meant seeking solutions to the social problems such as racial discrimination. The main aim of Du Bois was to transform the condition of Africans and Africa. In his study of racism in relation to sociology, he utilized the multiple methodologies. His experience mainly focused on the culture, diaspora African history, complexity and the struggle for complexity. He focused on styles of presentation and methods of analysis in capturing the complexity of the blacks. Du Bois used the self-reflection among the blacks because it showed the clear picture of their social action(Arnaud 2009, p.41). Du Bois methodology clearly reflected the connotation of the social science that Du Bois focused on. In the sociological study, Du Bois came up with salient strategies and subjected them to testing procedures to clearly define the behavior of the indigenous people. He used the strategy and ensured that he preserved his reputation and the reputation of the other Africans. The use of the methodology and traditional social science took different forms. He emphasized that Africans have to be theoretical, social and political revolutions, egalitarian alternatives, and world historical. In conclusion, as discussed in the essay above, Du Bois brought out contribution to his understanding of sociological understanding of race. Blacks were segregated most of the times because of their color. They faced a lot of challenges in trying to cope with the society around them. Religion takes a central role in the social lives of the people. Du Bois observed that there was segregation in the church set-up. Thus, there was a great gap between the whites and blacks. Du Bois was very instrumental in addressing some of the social injustices that the blacks faced. He emphasized that the blacks were free in some of the parts of the countries. Thus, measures had to be taken to ensure that they are free in all the parts of the world. To him, education was the key to acquiring a high position in the society. Bibliography Arnaud P. 2009. African American pioneers of sociology: a critical history. Toronto, University of Toronto Press. BaltzelL E. D. 2006. The Protestant establishment revisited. [Washington, D.C.], [United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa]. Bush M. 2011. Everyday forms of whiteness: understanding race in a "post-racial" world. Lanham, Md, Rowman& Littlefield. Calhoun C. 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