Souls of Black Folk

Souls of Black Folk

Thesis Statement

In the "Souls of Black Folk," Du Bois entices the book reader to trial to realise what it is like to be a part of the world in which an African-American inhabits, an comprehending of the spirits of very dark folk. This paper displays that Du Bois's use of the period "Double Consciousness" mentions to a sense of habitually looking at one's self through the eyes of others. The African community, recounted in the innovative, is considering with the topic of having being examined through the eyes of another community, that community being the one of the white man.

Introduction

It discusses the strange experience of the Negro being a problem. Du Bois discussed a childhood experience about how being different from other children in his class made it evident to him that he was a problem because he was different. He realized that he was blocked from their world by a veil. In study 1, Du Bois also discusses double consciousness, which means always looking at you through the eyes of people other than yourself. In addition, Du Bois wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American without the association of negativity. Also, he explains that the nation wants Black people to be content with being servants; therefore, Black people are still seeking freedom. According to Du Bois Negroes are working toward human brotherhood, through the ideal of race.

In this study Du Bois focuses on the veil, which he says every American is born with. This veil acts as a separation of the Negro from the White world. It separates the Negro from many opportunities afforded to White people. Moreover, the veil acts as a point of difference. The point of difference is a symbol that the person behind the veil is different from everyone who is not behind the veil. Because a veil covers and hides the person behind it, that person can only be seen through the veil. Therefore, a person without a veil, looking at someone with a veil, will look at the person with the veil and see someone who is different from them because the veil creates a different appearance for the person who is behind it. Thus, the veil is a point of difference.

Du Bois focuses on the veil to show why the Negro views himself as being unequal to the White world. This feeling comes from a suboptimal world view, which is a fragmented, non-cohesive, non-coherent worldview. In addition this feeling is stirred by a dichotomous logic, which means using external criteria to determine your self-worth. These external criteria include, but are not limited to: skin color; gender; and a family history of material wealth. When the Negro uses this comparison method he will always feel that he is less than White people. He will feel this way because these external criteria are viewed by White people as the requirements for being somebody worth having a positive interaction ...