W.E.B. Du Bois states, “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line.
I agree with the statement made by W.E.B. Du Bois stating that, “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line.”The stand indeed is a prescient statement. It is set to expound more on the reader, the strange meaning of individuals being black and also while dawning in the Twentieth Century. The writer explains the meaning of the word emancipation, and its possible effects. It is also another channel of bringing out the roles of the various leaders in a certain race.
Du Bois is taken into task to, “ Lay in my hands and work for the rise of the Negro people, taking for granted that their best development means the best development of the world”. Among other titles that Du Bois picked during his times, he would be considered Renaissance man of the modern day. His ideas, thoughts, and foundations supporting this move to speak of the underlying color-line issue, surely brings his works as prominent and at the same times, full of controversy. Through these arguably yet genuine argument that I fully support, Du Bois managed to lay a framework that was to become an effective strategy channel for the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century (Bois, 1946).
His concepts in relation to race resulted to a double-consciousness notion, which would be impacted to the readers. The conceptual sense of looking at an individual’s self through others eyes again resulted to a touchstone that would be utilised when thinking about races in America. In addition to these enduring concepts, it is indeed certain, that the issue to be covered in this paper ushers in the possibilities for the future progress in relation to the “color-line” consideration in the twentieth century.
Du Bois would later rise to become a national prominence leader in the Niagara Movement. This was a group of activists (African-American) who fought for equal rights for black people. From his endeavor, we deduce that the statement made by Du Bois in relation to color-line, as genuine and rightfully stated. As a reader, I can identify the mission and goal of the Niagara movement were hand in hand with the ones made by Du Bois. It was time that the black individual’s freedom would be fought and closes the growing racism gap.
As racism happened to be the main agenda on Du Bois's polemics list, where he protested the discrimination in employment and education, then can we be able to argue that Du toils were indeed valid and that, it encompassed the various experiences of the American black soldiers. I would back Bois’ statement and uphold it effectively. There were some initial valid issues and debates that steered their movement when he was still a student in Harvard University back in the late 80s. As a channel that would help restore the humanity sense, Du Bois efforts as he followed his black predecessors, proved to be a daunting task even as much as oppositions were met with. Some southern white individual’s made a clear statement reiterating Du’s efforts.
As highly praised was his character, Du Bois avoided such initial struggles and impediments resulting from the struggle. Personally I would have followed his steps by adhering to the taking of a somewhat indirect approach to the underlying issues concerning these white’s, political structure and power. It will be valid to state that, the efforts by Du Bois indeed are a great task to have been undertaken (Bois, 1946). The “color-line” concept by Bois provides to me, a reader, a powerful statement that would form the ideology and basis to which the color line in all of Americas societies, social and political realms, a base line towards dissolving the overlying negro tribulations. As Du Bois intentionally chose to focus more on the class and education issues, so is my sand in the event I was present during these turmoil events ( Bois, 1946). As it was earlier mentioned in this paeper, there was no atual solution to the “Negro Problem” ocuring in the South. However, Du Bois leverly deployshis tackticts and starts by acknowledging and making use of the power of rhetoric rebound the initial opposition.
As a viewer who agree with his actions in indetifying the real issue to affact the 20th Century era, the issue of “class” as compared to the “race,” resulted to a deemed threatening and inferior ideoology to the white class. The same measure was also applied in the realms of was politics. Hence, in identifying the color line emphasis on the 20th century, more viable measure can be seen being adapted by Du Bois and the socieites at large. One channel that wa used by Du Bois to actualise his efforts and which is hghly identifie, is the choie of using education whihc was a seemingly trait in the 1890. This choice of channel had political influence and involvement whereby the white Southerners failed to notice its enoumous capablities and serious threats it exhibited. To even turn the situation around, Bois simply replacing the term “race” with the term “class,” and the term “politics” with the term“education”.tentions and purpose of the strugle experiened by Du Bois. His less radical approach to the prevailing socila needs, made him gain favour with both the black and white counterparts ( Bois, 1946).
As it is identified in the different incidences where Du Bois deploys different tactics, the color line issues appears to be a patinent issue that surely desrves to be handle and taken care of accordingly. It is in that effect whereby, “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line,” stands to be a valid and justified statement into achieving equality among the different realms and position societies offers it dwellers. In narrowing down the issues and goals to be achieved on, Du Bois selets one of the best viable cases of the goals to be archieved in order to reach to a litle bit of perfetion in the American African comunities. The fields selected are; education, politics and industry, which hints on the areas the 20th Century problem faing is depended on.
In comparing Du Bois "The souls with the black folk" with Olaudah Equiano " The Life of Olaudah Equiano", there lies different ideologies which somewhat delivers one harmonious message home. “The Life of Olaudah Equiano” depicts the life of man who was taken to bondage. Despite his advanced understanding of the things around him, Equiano is sold into bondage together with his sister. A different story is articulated in “The souls with the black folk”. Du Bois brings in the wanting relationship between the whites and the blacks in different contextual lifelines. “The souls with the black folk” speaks of the racism that existed in those eras whereby, the writer (Du Bois) finds the best possible channels in order to change the current notion and the level of racism that had enrooted.
In “The Life of Olaudah Equiano", it can also be identified that Equiano himself was also black. Despite his level of schooling, his color sees him sold into slavery is a couple of times. Both writers intend to bring the different styles of black person being oppressed. As Olaudah Equiano is forcefully entered into bondage and slavery however, his abilities are later discovered and a better place and position is given to him. He is then given a chance to prove his worthiness in performing different tasks given to him, which he gladly does. Du Bois on the other hand, does not undergo the kind of things experienced by Olaudah Eduinano. He joined a civil society while still in school. This is the door that cannels him to becoming a member of Niagara movement. In this civil society is where he gets the mean and manners of finding possible avenues of minimising the level of racism and at the same time, accommodating both the southerners whites and blacks preferences as well. Both story lines give the basis of each story and narrator. The various figures that could only recommended when they are highly regarded or even considered. Despite such chances existing during their times, there may have been lacking vital components in life as well.
Works Cited
Rogers, A. M., 2012. On the Color Line: The Early Ideologies and Methodologies of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois. Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History, 2(no. 1), p. np.
William E.B. Du Bois, 1946. “Bound by the Color Line,” New Masses (1946); Du Bois 122−3.. 1 ed. New York: Henry Holt & Company, 1915).
