Starting Week With Reading: Exploring And Studying Race
1st Week Readingwe Will Begin By Exploring And Studying Race Questions
We will begin by exploring and studying race questions in America, focusing on African American writers such as W.E.B. DuBois and Frederick Douglass. We will examine DuBois's assertion that the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line, considering the historical context of lynching, slavery, and violence faced by African Americans. Similarly, we will reflect on Douglass's speeches about slavery and freedom, emphasizing their impact and relevance today. Students are encouraged to consider how these authors' words serve as insights into the lived experiences amid oppressive systems and to contemplate the enduring relevance of the color-line in contemporary society. This study invites students to centralize the voices of these pioneering thinkers and analyze their writings as gifts of historical memory that continue to inform our understanding of race, justice, and equality.
Paper For Above instruction
The exploration of race issues in America through the works of W.E.B. DuBois and Frederick Douglass provides crucial insights into the historical struggles and ongoing debates surrounding racial equality. DuBois, as the first African American to earn a Harvard Ph.D. and a founding member of the NAACP, emphasized education as a means of economic and social advancement for African Americans (Bryant, 2010). His assertion that the problem of the twentieth century was the problem of the color-line underscores the systemic racial divides that persisted despite the abolition of slavery. In his address before the Chicago Conference of the NAACP in 1926, “Criteria of Negro Art,” DuBois articulated the importance of art and culture as tools for resistance and self-expression (Bryant, 2010). His words, spoken during a time of widespread racial violence, lynching, and systemic discrimination, exemplify the courage needed to confront unjust structures. Reading DuBois's words invites reflection on how societal barriers shape identity and aspirations, and whether the color-line remains a significant issue today.
Frederick Douglass's speeches, especially “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” exemplify eloquent resistance and moral clarity against slavery. Douglass’s vivid descriptions of the brutal realities of slavery—beatings, irons, auctions—highlight the atrocities committed against enslaved Africans (Bryant, 2010). His assertion that slavery makes fools of the moral sense of even the most indifferent Americans emphasizes the disparity between the nation's ideals of liberty and the reality faced by enslaved people. Douglass's rhetoric implores contemporary readers to understand the pandemic of racial injustice and to recognize the ongoing impacts of slavery and systemic inequality. His words serve as a challenging yet inspiring call for moral responsibility, urging us to examine how far society has come and how much further it still needs to go.
Placing oneself in the shoes of these authors entails understanding their courage to speak out amidst danger and oppression. For Douglass, speaking against slavery meant risking life and liberty in a deeply hostile environment. For DuBois, asserting the significance of the color-line during the Jim Crow era was an act of defiance and hope. These authors' words are gifts in that they provide a window into the past—visualizing a time fraught with peril but also resilience. They remind us that racial justice is not merely an abstract concept but a tangible pursuit rooted in lived experience.
Furthermore, reflecting on the relevance of these writings today reveals that the issues they addressed—racial discrimination, systemic inequality, violence—are still prevalent. Movements like Black Lives Matter echo the struggles articulated by DuBois and Douglass. Contemporary discourse about racial justice continues to grapple with the “color-line,” signaling the importance of understanding historical debates within modern contexts. Their writings challenge us to consider whether society has truly addressed the roots of racial injustice or merely repackaged them.
In conclusion, the writings of DuBois and Douglass serve as invaluable historical texts that inform ongoing discussions about race, identity, and justice in America. Their words encapsulate courage, morality, and a relentless pursuit of equality. Engaging deeply with these texts allows us to appreciate the strides made and recognize the work still needed to dismantle the enduring barriers of the color-line. Their legacies exemplify how words—spoken and written—can catalyze change, inspire perseverance, and forge a more equitable future.
References
- Bryant, J. (2010). The Pearson Custom Library of American Literature. Rasmussen College English Department. New York, NY: Pearson Learning Solutions.