African American Book review

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Yangxue Li Comment by Stephanie Savage: Do not double space your heading. It takes up too much room within your very short, two-page essay.

Dr. Bayo Ijagbemi

AFAS 160A1: 101

03/22/2018

Bois, Du: The Souls of Black Folks.

In the text, The Souls of Black Folks, the subject reading is on African-American culture. Bois tells the African-Americans should have two thoughts which are how they look at themselves and how the world looks at them. The text presents how the African-Americans were handled during his time and how they were perceived in the United States during the dark era. Comment by Stephanie Savage: Italicize. Comment by Stephanie Savage: You do not need a hyphen. Comment by Stephanie Savage: You need his full last name, Du Bois. Comment by Stephanie Savage: this

[ ] Comment by Stephanie Savage: Introduction: 2/2

In Chapter 1, the author calls out for the equality and the blacks from the South freedom to engage in civil activities like voting, provided with good education and medication. Similarly, Bois calls for justice to be fair when it comes to ruling the sons and daughters of the South. The salient issues is how the African-Americans are treated which according to Bois is not right since they are denied fundamental rights for example, the right of voting, good education and equity and justice. However, the supporting issues are the need of the African-Americans to have two thoughts and to be guided with the same when interacting with the world. Bois in his argument believes that the success of the African-Americans realizing how they perceive themselves and how the world sees them will play a crucial role in helping them boast their self-confidence and esteem. Comment by Stephanie Savage: Capitalize. Comment by Stephanie Savage: are

In chapter one, of his book Bois uses the veil to represent how the African-American are viewed. The author uses this chapter to emphasize that the African-Americans have a hurdle to live as the Negros at the same time as the Americans. In this book, Bois indicate that there is the color-line that separates the two racial groups and so is how distant is their economic, political as well as other privileges. In “The Souls of Black Folks” the author illustrates how the African-Americans were passive and could only wait from the whites to make decisions and it was up to them to adhere to the conditions without questioning or suffer the consequences of the disobedience. Bois uses the example of the denial of the right to take part in elections to explain the dormant role of the African-Americans in governance during that time.

The Africana experience that is evident in “The Soul of Black Folks” is convincing and prints the picture of the African-American history that is why Bois work is considered as an important work in social science. The recognition clearly indicates the worthiness of this work and the authorship of the same work. Bois use his text to portray what African-Americans were going through and explains how they were required to respond in order to avoid cases that could paint them as the victim of atrocities that were committed during those moments. Comment by Stephanie Savage: italicize.

I find the knowledge that Bois displayed on how the Africa-Americans were denied the right to vote, to access good education and medication as some of the issues that concur with my position of the African experience during the time that discrimination was at its climax in the United States. “The Soul of Black Folks” is one of the very many books that vividly show how the African experience was during the dark time.

In conclusion, the organization of the reading was excellent I found it easy to read as well as understand the content from the reading material. The whole experience was awesome and I will in a position to get more insights about the African experience as well as relate with the current situation in the US. I believe the ancient African-American history has shaped the way this group currently lives in the US. [ ] Comment by Stephanie Savage: This was not a reflection paper. See below for what a proper conclusion should be structured. Comment by Stephanie Savage: Conclusion: 2/3

References

Du Bois, W.E.B. 1903 (1997 edition). The Souls of Black Folk. Gordonville: Frarrar Strauss

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

· There are a few grammatical points that need to be addressed. Be sure to proof read your essay before submission.

Your essay could be better structured using the outline below:

INTRODUCTION:

· What it meant to be black/challenges Black America faced at the turn of the century (Problems).

· Du Bois also suggested ways out of the predicament of Black America (Solutions).

MAIN BODY

I. Problems/challenges

· Social conditions/problems

· Inferior status (Veil)

· Identity crises (double consciousness)

· Economic conditions/problems

· Sharecropping/ tenant farming

· Poverty

· Political conditions/problems

· Disenfranchisement

· This problem made the social and economic problems more difficult

II. Solutions to problems (most of these strategies are in opposition to Booker T. Washington’s ideas)

· Unity

· Ethnic identity

· Equality

· Political power

· Higher education

· Leadership (Talented 10th)

CONCLUSION

· Significance for Black America

· Harlem Renaissance

· Civil Rights Movement

· Was Du Bois right with his prediction for the 20th century (Color line)?

· Are we out of the woods yet?

· Is his prediction relevant to today?

· Difficulty level of the book (critique of book)

SCORING:

Introduction: 2/2

Challenges of Black America: 5/5

Du Bois’ blueprint for full emancipation: 3/5

Conclusion and evaluation of reading: 2/3

SCORE: 12/15