Racial Segregation in the Souls of Black Folk

Dubois was an advocate of black nationalism. He wanted the entire world to hear his voice and to see the “Beauty in black”. Many African Americans back in the days of old were forced and struggled with making progress because of the “system”. In addition, Web Dubois also speaks on indigent education, Aspirations but no changes, and segregation on the basis of race. Dubois, therefore, is skeptical of the possibility of progress within the black community.

To begin, “Meaning of progress” literally can mean the representation of a better future. Reaching towards achieving those types of goals in the African American community. The perception of progress is characterized by Dubois as "ugly". His description of the school where he wishes to pursue his education as a teacher is dilapidated and horribly furnished. Dubois stated,” I was haunted by a New England vision of neat little desks and chairs, but, alas!.. They had the one virtue of making naps dangerous,—possibly fatal, for the floor was not to be trusted” (paragraph 7). As an example of poor progress, we cannot claim to have "progress" in the black American community when we cannot even access an education suitable for learning environments.” Some other teachers, including Dubois himself, had to find their own schools by foot rather than by riding horses as they were too "expensive". As far as progress is concerned, he wants us to realize how hard it is for black people and how easy it was for "whites.” The whites had access to a lot of different resources.

Now, Dubois uses a particular example of the way some black folks had so much hope and aspiration towards a better and positive future. Let's use Josie and her family as an example. Dubois expresses “She had about…the shadow of unconscious moral heroism that would willingly give all of life to make life broader, deeper, and fuller for her and hers. I saw much of this family afterward and grew to love them for their honest efforts to be decent and comfortable, and for their knowledge of their own ignorance” (Dubois 5). There is a very important message conveyed by this quote. It illustrates how there can be light despite so much darkness. Yet admiring optimism despite such a terrible situation. This particular essay shows that the majority of the youth cite their parents, caregivers, teachers, etc. as role models. Literally, their only hope. Dubois' mission is to give ambitions and dreams to these children. As he concludes “There they sat…the little feet bare and swinging, the eyes full of expectation, with here and there a twinkle of mischief, and the hands grasping Webster's blue-black spelling–book. I loved my school, and the fine faith the children had in the wisdom of their teacher was truly marvelous” (Paragraph 10). In summary, Dubois is pointing out the positive aspects of negative situations.

Lastly, now to touch basis on racial segregation. As Dubois describes primarily in his story, he experienced some discrimination. Historically, segregation has existed for a very long time, and we still experience it occasionally today.