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misspalah 's review for:
The Souls of Black Folk
by W.E.B. Du Bois
“Here again the hope for the future depended peculiarly on careful and delicate dealing with these criminals. Their offences at first were those of laziness, carelessness, and impulse, rather than of malignity or ungoverned vicious-ness. Such misdemeanors needed discriminating treatment, firm but reformatory, with no hint of injustice, and full proof of guilt. For such dealing with criminals, white or black, the South had no machinery, no adequate jails or reformatories; its police system was arranged to deal with blacks alone, and tacitly assumed that every white man was ipso facto a member of that police. Thus grew up a double system of justice, which erred on the white side by undue leniency and the practical immunity of red-handed criminals, and erred on the black side by undue severity, injustice, and lack of discrimination. For, as I have said, the police system of the South was originally designed to keep track of all Negroes, not simply of criminals; and when the Negroes were freed and the whole South was convinced of the impossibility of free Negro labor, the first and almost universal device was to use the courts as a means of reënslaving the blacks. It was not then a question of crime, but rather one of color, that settled a man's conviction on almost any charge. Thus Negroes came to look upon courts as instruments of injustice and oppression, and upon those convicted in them as martyrs and victims”.
- Of the sons of Master and Man : The souls of black folk by W.E.B Du Bois
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This book is indeed laborious. First, because of the subject matter which dealt with the culture of race relations in the United States particularly black and white people. Second, Its hard to follow through at some part due to its language used in the book. Du bois can be vague and sometimes the language is so flowery that i kept on circled back to read the sentences again to make sure that i really comprehend the point he made. Along the way, 12 chapters to be exact, Du Bois pointed out historical facts and argued with solid examples to demonstrate how slavery and the impact of it have shaped society in the southern part of USA for both black and white people. Since this is done in a series of essays, here are the chapters with summary of what Du Bois tried to share with the readers (at least based on what i understand from my reading).
.
1. ''Of Our Spiritual Strivings'' - This chapter highlighted the African Americans struggles as their country treated them as second class citizens. Du Bois analyzed the impact and how it affected the black community in the country both physically and psychologically manner.
.
2. ''Of the Dawn of Freedom'' - This chapter entailed an emancipation history and The Freedmen’s Bureau. FYI, to those who are not American or not familiar of Freemen’s Bureau , Freedmen’s Bureau is the law that was established to help a formerly enslaved people in a southern states. Du bois helped readers understand how the Freedmen’s Bureau guided African Americans’ lives once they were freed from slavery.
.
3. ''Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others'' - Du Bois called out Booker T. Washington’s for only put his focus towards education of African Americans. According to Du Bois, It is immoral and coward to compromise on civil rights of African Americans. Du Bois strongly believed that the importance of having the right formation and responsibility of Black leadership. The voice of the community should be represented by our own people is what he’s trying to stress on in this chapter.
.
4. ''Of the Meaning of Progress'' - The reality showed to us readers in this chapter is quite eye-opening. Despite being freed , Du Bois gave his own evaluation on the progress African Americans made from the year 1861 - 1872 which is dishearteningly very little.
.
5. ''Of the Wings of Atlanta'' - The dangers of Materialism were outlined in this chapter with the relation of Modern Atlanta as an epitome in his arguments. This might spread to the South, African Americans, and America.
.
6. ''Of the Training of Black Men'' - The way to uplift the black community is education. It is imperative as education will led to the prosperity for Individual, society and the growth of the nation. Hence, Du Bois kept on pointing that being educated is necessary for every single African Americans.
.
7. ''Of the Black Belt'' & ''Of the Quest of the Golden Fleece'' - Both of these chapters stressed the negative impact of the cotton economy. What i liked about these chapters, Du Bois described the severity of this cotton plantation and the industry that was built on it affected both black and white Southerners.
.
8. ''Of the Sons of Master and Man'' - Du Bois warned that the continues segregation will pose the threat to the united states. This section was done brilliantly as he showed us readers what he has examined in regards of understanding the contacts between the races, black and white people. Yes, the co-existence is important but it must come with the right mechanism which Du Bois felt Southern States is lacking of.
.
9. ''Of the Faith of the Fathers'' - Du Bois analysed the religion of the Black South and in that analysis, he highlighted how African-American spirituality rooted here that came from Africa in the first place. He also pointed out the role of the modern black church towards the community.
.
10. ''Of the Passing of the First-Born'' - I think this chapter did stir my feelings me a little bit. Imagined being okay that your son died simply because the world is too horrible to live in. At least, from his POV, his son wont suffered due to racism and discrimination.
.
11. ''Of Alexander Crummell'' - Du Bois shared with readers, a story of of Alexander Crummell, an Episcopalian and early Pan-Africanist.
.
12. ''Of the Coming of John'' - This chapter narrated a short story about an African-American man traveled to the North for his education. Once he returned to the south, he find himself unable to reintegrate into his community.
.
13. ''The Sorrow Songs'' - The last chapter examined the importance of songs and how it tied to the African-American spirituals. It is also the embodiment of African-American culture. Du Bois believed that the reason these songs exist because it captured the emotion and expression of human experience.
.
Overall, an important read! Everyone should read it. If it’s not for a language used in this book, i would have wanted to re-read it just to understand every chapter in deeper manner.
- Of the sons of Master and Man : The souls of black folk by W.E.B Du Bois
.
.
This book is indeed laborious. First, because of the subject matter which dealt with the culture of race relations in the United States particularly black and white people. Second, Its hard to follow through at some part due to its language used in the book. Du bois can be vague and sometimes the language is so flowery that i kept on circled back to read the sentences again to make sure that i really comprehend the point he made. Along the way, 12 chapters to be exact, Du Bois pointed out historical facts and argued with solid examples to demonstrate how slavery and the impact of it have shaped society in the southern part of USA for both black and white people. Since this is done in a series of essays, here are the chapters with summary of what Du Bois tried to share with the readers (at least based on what i understand from my reading).
.
1. ''Of Our Spiritual Strivings'' - This chapter highlighted the African Americans struggles as their country treated them as second class citizens. Du Bois analyzed the impact and how it affected the black community in the country both physically and psychologically manner.
.
2. ''Of the Dawn of Freedom'' - This chapter entailed an emancipation history and The Freedmen’s Bureau. FYI, to those who are not American or not familiar of Freemen’s Bureau , Freedmen’s Bureau is the law that was established to help a formerly enslaved people in a southern states. Du bois helped readers understand how the Freedmen’s Bureau guided African Americans’ lives once they were freed from slavery.
.
3. ''Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others'' - Du Bois called out Booker T. Washington’s for only put his focus towards education of African Americans. According to Du Bois, It is immoral and coward to compromise on civil rights of African Americans. Du Bois strongly believed that the importance of having the right formation and responsibility of Black leadership. The voice of the community should be represented by our own people is what he’s trying to stress on in this chapter.
.
4. ''Of the Meaning of Progress'' - The reality showed to us readers in this chapter is quite eye-opening. Despite being freed , Du Bois gave his own evaluation on the progress African Americans made from the year 1861 - 1872 which is dishearteningly very little.
.
5. ''Of the Wings of Atlanta'' - The dangers of Materialism were outlined in this chapter with the relation of Modern Atlanta as an epitome in his arguments. This might spread to the South, African Americans, and America.
.
6. ''Of the Training of Black Men'' - The way to uplift the black community is education. It is imperative as education will led to the prosperity for Individual, society and the growth of the nation. Hence, Du Bois kept on pointing that being educated is necessary for every single African Americans.
.
7. ''Of the Black Belt'' & ''Of the Quest of the Golden Fleece'' - Both of these chapters stressed the negative impact of the cotton economy. What i liked about these chapters, Du Bois described the severity of this cotton plantation and the industry that was built on it affected both black and white Southerners.
.
8. ''Of the Sons of Master and Man'' - Du Bois warned that the continues segregation will pose the threat to the united states. This section was done brilliantly as he showed us readers what he has examined in regards of understanding the contacts between the races, black and white people. Yes, the co-existence is important but it must come with the right mechanism which Du Bois felt Southern States is lacking of.
.
9. ''Of the Faith of the Fathers'' - Du Bois analysed the religion of the Black South and in that analysis, he highlighted how African-American spirituality rooted here that came from Africa in the first place. He also pointed out the role of the modern black church towards the community.
.
10. ''Of the Passing of the First-Born'' - I think this chapter did stir my feelings me a little bit. Imagined being okay that your son died simply because the world is too horrible to live in. At least, from his POV, his son wont suffered due to racism and discrimination.
.
11. ''Of Alexander Crummell'' - Du Bois shared with readers, a story of of Alexander Crummell, an Episcopalian and early Pan-Africanist.
.
12. ''Of the Coming of John'' - This chapter narrated a short story about an African-American man traveled to the North for his education. Once he returned to the south, he find himself unable to reintegrate into his community.
.
13. ''The Sorrow Songs'' - The last chapter examined the importance of songs and how it tied to the African-American spirituals. It is also the embodiment of African-American culture. Du Bois believed that the reason these songs exist because it captured the emotion and expression of human experience.
.
Overall, an important read! Everyone should read it. If it’s not for a language used in this book, i would have wanted to re-read it just to understand every chapter in deeper manner.