William Edward Burghardt DuBois American sociologist, socialist, historian, and Pan-African civil rights activist. Du Bois rose to national prominence as a leader of the Niagara Movement, a group of African-American activists who wanted equal rights for blacks. His cause included people of color around the world, especially colonial Africans and Asians. Du Bois was a prolific writer. His collection of essays, The Souls of Black Folk, is a seminal work of African American literature. His 1935 masterpiece, Negro Reconstruction in America, challenged the popular orthodoxy that blacks were responsible for the failures of the Reconstruction era.
As a scholar, Du Bois helped invent the field of sociology as we know it today. In 1936, Du Bois undertook a globetrotting tour that included visits to Nazi Germany, China, and Japan. Du Bois was an anti-war activist throughout his life, but his efforts became more visible after World War II. In 1959, Du Bois was awarded the International Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union. “Studies on Negro Issues”, “The Biography of John Brown”, “African American Reconstruction”, and “Princess of Darkness: A Romance” are his most famous works.
This is a collection of Du Bois’s quotations on civil rights, liberty, and education.
Believe in life! Humanity has always lived and progressed to greater, broader, more fulfilling lives. Du Bois Network
No power can match the power of a woman’s determination to rise up. Du Bois Network
We need the power of votes for pure defense, otherwise what else can save us from a second enslavement? Du Bois Network
True and valuable ideals can liberate and elevate people; false ideals can imprison and degrade. Du Bois Network
The slave was freed; stood in the sun for a while; then returned to slavery. Du Bois Network
Strive for that great spirit that measures life not by disappointment but by possibility. Du Bois Network
One must not only know but also act. Du Bois Network
Whiteness is ownership of the earth. Du Bois Network
Freedom trains for freedom. Responsibility is the first step to responsibility. Du Bois Network
A little less whining and grumbling, a little more dogged work and manly struggle, would have brought us more honor than a thousand Civil Rights Acts. Du Bois Network
There is only one coward in the world, a coward who dares not know. Du Bois Network
Ignorance is incurable. Du Bois Network
It’s a strange feeling, this double consciousness, this feeling of always seeing oneself through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul with the measuring tape of a world that carries with it an amusing scorn and pity. Du Bois Network
Being a poor person is difficult, but being a poor race in the land of money is the lowest level of suffering. Du Bois Network
Until this is achieved within our own souls, we will never be free from the tyranny of our white oppressors. Du Bois Network
As the black vote increased, Congress’s hearing improved. Du Bois Network
Capitalism cannot reform itself; it is destined to destroy itself. Du Bois Network
Being a poor person is difficult, but being a poor race in the land of money is the lowest level of suffering. Du Bois Network
Education and work are levers to improve people’s quality. Du Bois Network
Allow yourself to do unpleasant things to gain the upper hand on your soul. Du Bois Network
Honest and sincere criticism from those with the closest interests – criticism of writers by readers, criticism of governments by the governed, criticism of leaders by the led – is the soul of democracy and the guarantee of modern society. Du Bois Network
The cause of war is preparation for war. Du Bois Network
It is a star, it is an ancient star, it is a young and eternal star! Du Bois Network
The kind of sermons preached in most churches of color today are unattractive even to reasonably intelligent people. Du Bois Network
Today, most people cannot imagine a freedom that does not involve slavery. Du Bois Network
A classic is a book that does not have to be rewritten. Du Bois Network
Read some good, heavy, serious books just for self-discipline: master yourself, master yourself. Du Bois Network
In both the North and the South, blacks moved from slavery to serfdom, a system of poverty and limited rights. Du Bois Network
For real problems, how does it feel to be the problem? I rarely answer a word. Du Bois Network
Education cannot just teach work—it must teach life. Du Bois Network
Women of the future will have to work and be financially independent throughout their lives. She must decide for herself the right to motherhood. Du Bois Network
It’s as if nature had to narrow people in order to give them strength. Du Bois Network
You are not, but you are: your thoughts, your actions, and most importantly your dreams are still there. Du Bois Network
The problem of the twentieth century is skin color. Du Bois Network
I am a passionate advocate for physical training and trade instruction for both black boys and white boys. Du Bois Network
Obeying the rules, legal precedence and political consistency are no more important than rights, justice and simple common sense. Du Bois Network
No generalized selfishness can bring social benefit to all. Du Bois Network
Most men in this world are people of color. Faith in humanity means faith in people of color. The world of the future will most likely be created by people of color. Du Bois Network
Racial bias reduces the value of real estate and human beings. Du Bois Network
The price of freedom is lower than the price of repression. Du Bois Network
Your children learn more from you than you teach them. Du Bois Network
I believe in pride of race, blood, and self; self-pride so deep that it despises the injustice of others. Du Bois Network
The reward for your work must be the satisfaction the work brings you and the need for the work in the world. With this, life is heaven, or as close to heaven as you can get. Du Bois Network
The cost of culture is a lie. Du Bois Network
A system cannot fail those it is not designed to protect. Du Bois Network
Either America will be destroyed by ignorance, or ignorance will destroy America. Du Bois Network
There is only one coward in the world, a coward who dares not know. Du Bois Network
One does not look behind the door unless one is standing there in person. Du Bois Network
The world is shrinking together; it finds itself adjacent to itself in a strange, almost magical degree. Du Bois Network
Stimulating the extremely weak and untrained mind is like playing with fire. Du Bois Network
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