Winter Quarter History 263

During the Winter quarter I took African Americans since 1865 to the Present. We read several books on African American leaders from Ida B. Wells, W E B DuBois, Malcolm X, Robert F. Williams, and Barack Obama.
It actually proved a very interesting course. I enjoyed the professor, very professional in speech and dress, and in conducting the material. Liberal nonetheless.
Some writers stood out such as WEB DuBois, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama. The first was a highly educated African American writing in the late and early 18th & 19th centuries. We had to evaluate his book Souls of Black Folks. Here is a bit of what I wrote:

A. How would you characterize Du Bois's perspective? (Who is Du Bois? What is important to him? What does he emphasize?)

W.E.B. Du Bois, a highly educated African American, evaluates the Southern situation with a desire to fairly present those involved and suggest the steps necessary to remedy the conditions (112, 113). While he has his people at heart he also considers the South’s future (113). He seeks to carefully and methodically explain the causes behind the stated conditions. As he examines his topic, he carefully balances his words explaining the perspectives and actions of both the white and black communities. Addressing the crime issue, he explains why both the white and black people respond as they do (108).
He views his people’s condition as a result of inadequate training, color-based prejudice, and lack of self initiative. Discussing the freedmen’s involvement in the market place, he states, “what the black laborer needs is careful personal guidance, group leadership of men with hearts in their bosoms, to train them to foresight, carefulness, and honesty” (102). Within slavery they learned one system of labor but now in the free marketplace, these men needed direction and training to effectively compete (102). This training must extend to the ballot, to encourage African Americans to vote and use it effectively and wisely (105-106).
The issue of color-based discrimination constantly rises throughout his work because he views it as a core reason behind his people’s poor condition (112-113).
It segregates neighborhoods, economically disadvantages them, disenfranchises his people, segregates the intellectual, commercial, and social realms, and prevents whites from extending an aiding hand (101, 103, 106, 110, 111, 112). It causes misperceptions between the two races (101).
In his mind, African Americans must gain the ballot, get an education, and help their own (104, 109, 113). His people, he felt, did not completely grasp their need to advance and help themselves out of their situation (113).
In some ways he acknowledges and accepts that racial prejudice will linger for awhile (104). Thus he encourages his people to help themselves out, yet he feels the complete future progress of the region depends on the dual cooperation of both races (113). For his people argue “when, by proscription and prejudice, these same Negros are classed with and treated like the lowest of their people, simply because they are Negros” it discourages progress and encourages crime (112-113).

With time I will introduce some other African American writers...