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megryanreally's review against another edition
5.0
All of Du Bois' insights foreshadow the present state of the South today but this was especially revealing. W.E.B. Du Bois understood then the true issue of the criminal justice system: its origins and design to control slaves and its injustice in lack of consistency in dealings with blacks v whites. The courts then were "a means of reenslaving blacks" and as nothing has changed, we have no choice but as an educated people to reevaluate and question the court's existence as upholding that which it claims to, or justice as a concept made by whites and for whites alone.
sjgrodsky's review against another edition
5.0
Goodreads lists only one edition of this classic. I read a different edition, the Modern Library imprint, with an introduction by David Levering Lewis.
You might notice that I gave the book the highest possible rating but didn't finish it. What gives?
The five stars recognize DuBois for the fantastic prose stylist that he is. Only Rachel Carson (different gender, different subject matter, different era) can match DuBois for prose that's nearly poetry. My favorite of the essays begins "Once upon a time I taught school in the hills of Tennessee, where the broad dark veil of the Mississippi begins to roll and crumble to meet the Alleghenies."
Can you write like that? I can't.
My two favorite essays were this memoir of his schoolteacher days (called "Of the Meaning of Progress") and his VERY polite, painstakingly fair minded denunciation of Booker T Washington's accommodationist strategy ("Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others"). DuBois gives Washington every possible credit before denouncing his strategy with these eloquent words: "By every civilized and peaceful method we must strive for the rights which the world accords to men..."
So. The best parts are very very good. And there are others parts: sexist, dated, irrelevant. Parts that weren't worth my time and that I didn't finish.
The editor should have given context. And the book designer should have put the name of each essay in the top heading. Because we already know the name of the book.
You might notice that I gave the book the highest possible rating but didn't finish it. What gives?
The five stars recognize DuBois for the fantastic prose stylist that he is. Only Rachel Carson (different gender, different subject matter, different era) can match DuBois for prose that's nearly poetry. My favorite of the essays begins "Once upon a time I taught school in the hills of Tennessee, where the broad dark veil of the Mississippi begins to roll and crumble to meet the Alleghenies."
Can you write like that? I can't.
My two favorite essays were this memoir of his schoolteacher days (called "Of the Meaning of Progress") and his VERY polite, painstakingly fair minded denunciation of Booker T Washington's accommodationist strategy ("Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others"). DuBois gives Washington every possible credit before denouncing his strategy with these eloquent words: "By every civilized and peaceful method we must strive for the rights which the world accords to men..."
So. The best parts are very very good. And there are others parts: sexist, dated, irrelevant. Parts that weren't worth my time and that I didn't finish.
The editor should have given context. And the book designer should have put the name of each essay in the top heading. Because we already know the name of the book.
silentbutcuddly's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
A bit dated.
“The Soul of Black Folk” published in 1903 by W.E.B. DuBois is a collection of essays on race in American. While I was already familiar with the concept of double consciousness and the color line, I was shocked to learn how obsequious DuBois was to white racists in his essays.
I get he had to tailor his message to his audience, but I couldn’t get with how DuBois tripped over himself making excuses for white racism and selling out the Black folks he supposedly was advocating for by saying only x amount of them need go on to higher education.
I will say I did learn some new history regarding how the US government infantilized Blacks following Emancipation and thought throwing money at them without ever solving the underlying problem of racism would magically make everything better for them and the country.
I get this was revolutionary in its time, but to my modern eyes this book holds little value outside being a window into the past.
I give “The Souls of Black Folk” 3 out of 5 stars.
“The Soul of Black Folk” published in 1903 by W.E.B. DuBois is a collection of essays on race in American. While I was already familiar with the concept of double consciousness and the color line, I was shocked to learn how obsequious DuBois was to white racists in his essays.
I get he had to tailor his message to his audience, but I couldn’t get with how DuBois tripped over himself making excuses for white racism and selling out the Black folks he supposedly was advocating for by saying only x amount of them need go on to higher education.
I will say I did learn some new history regarding how the US government infantilized Blacks following Emancipation and thought throwing money at them without ever solving the underlying problem of racism would magically make everything better for them and the country.
I get this was revolutionary in its time, but to my modern eyes this book holds little value outside being a window into the past.
I give “The Souls of Black Folk” 3 out of 5 stars.
drillvoice's review against another edition
3.0
actually a really worthwhile and great book. powerful writing and a hell of an insight into the issues of the day
willisfriend's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I loved this book. W.E.B. Du Bois documents what Black life looked like in the South in the 40 years after the Emancipation. The amount of thought put into this book is what got me. Super eye opening. 15/10 would recommend.
bubblesofbayla's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
autumn_franks_03's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.25