Web Du Bois Uses The Metaphor Of The Veil To Depict The

Web Du Bois Utilizes The Metaphor Of The Veil To Depict The Color

W.E.B Du Bois utilizes the metaphor of the veil to depict the 'color-line' of the late 1800's and early 1900's in American politics and society. Several contemporary political moments and issues also resemble the protracted nature of the 'color-line' in the 21st century. This assignment asks you to research an issue linked to race and power in American politics. Your goal is to construct an argument about a current issue that helps to depict what the 'color-line' looks like today, not in opposition to Du Bois' arguments of the past, but demonstrating ways in which race continues to play a prominent role in American politics and life. Ideally, your essay makes a contention about whether the world Du Bois depicts in The Souls of Black Folk has changed substantially linked to a short research project considering race and power.

Potential case studies include: educational institutions; identity-based empowerment movements; incarceration; policies linked to race and representation (i.e. affirmative action, reparations, etc.); public protest; policing; language and discourse; inequality; immigration; segregation; pop culture; advertising; social media; music; and/or any other issue that considers the role race plays in American society. Purpose: develop a contemporary framework of analysis through a case study considering the continuing resilience (or lack thereof) of the 'color-line' in America. Demonstrate an ability to carry the arguments from the work of Du Bois and civil rights activists/thinkers into modern concerns of politics.

Extend your ability to develop and apply arguments with historical connections to power. Task: Write a word argumentative/analytical paper identifying a modern issue linked to the 'color-line'. This paper will include: 1) at least 3 news sources (more are welcome) identifying the controversy/issue chosen and referencing source material from the syllabus to identify how it relates to race and power; 2) an introduction presenting the topic and clear initial claim/thesis backed up with criteria for argumentation (thesis and 2-3 subarguments which justify the thesis); 3) commentary and analysis of the controversy demonstrating why it links to race and power based upon lectures and readings from the course (in other words bring Du Bois' arguments into the analysis to either critique or support); 4) summarizing the controversy as succinctly as possible and spending more time on analysis and argumentation; 5) an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion; 6) either in-text or footnote citations to the news articles and any class material utilized; 7) a works cited/bibliography. Criteria: Paper meets the requirements stated above; demonstrates clear connections to course material and discussions from class; accurately reflects the underlying concerns of race and the 'color-line'; presents an original argument and utilizes research to back up claims; and demonstrates effort in research and careful writing.

Paper For Above instruction

The metaphor of the veil, articulated by W.E.B. Du Bois, remains a powerful lens through which to examine contemporary racial issues in America. Historically, Du Bois described the veil as a symbolic barrier that obscures Black Americans from fully participating in the societal, political, and cultural fabric of the nation. While considerable progress has been made since the early 20th century, modern instances reveal that the 'color-line' persists, manifesting through systemic inequalities and racialized policies. This paper explores the issue of racial disparities in policing—a current, salient example of the ongoing 'color-line'—by analyzing recent events, media coverage, and scholarly discourse to demonstrate how race continues to shape power dynamics in American society.

The thesis of this paper asserts that, despite legal and societal advances, systemic racism in law enforcement exemplifies the enduring nature of the 'color-line.' Three subarguments support this claim: first, that police violence disproportionately affects Black communities; second, that policies and practices within law enforcement institutions reinforce racial hierarchies; and third, that public protests and social movements reveal persistent awareness of racial injustice. By integrating Du Bois's insights, particularly his critique of racial masks and societal barriers, this analysis highlights how racial power structures maintain control and marginalize Black Americans, echoing the historical significance of the veil.

Recent incidents, such as the killing of George Floyd in 2020, garnered global attention and reignited debates around racial bias in policing. News outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post chronicled the event extensively, noting that Floyd’s death was not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of systemic racism (The New York Times, 2020; The Washington Post, 2020). These reports reveal that Black Americans face excessive use of force, lower likelihoods of police protection, and higher arrest rates—patterns deeply rooted in racial hierarchies established during the Jim Crow era and perpetuated through contemporary law enforcement policies. This ongoing disparity aligns with Du Bois's argument that "the veil" prevents full societal integration and understanding, as Black voices and experiences are often marginalized or ignored.

Policy analysis shows that law enforcement practices, such as stop-and-frisk or the militarization of police, disproportionately target Black and Brown communities (Rios, 2011). These practices reinforce systemic racial control by creating environments where racial profiling becomes normalized. The 'war on drugs,' launched in the 1980s and continuing today, disproportionately impacts Black populations, further embedding racial inequalities into the fabric of law enforcement’s core operations (Alexander, 2010). Such policies exemplify how institutionalized racism maintains the 'color-line,' echoing Du Bois’s idea that societal barriers and racial masks conceal the true nature of racial inequality.

Public protests like the Black Lives Matter movement epitomize resistance and a collective demand for racial justice. These demonstrations challenge the racial hierarchies that police practices sustain, drawing media attention and influencing policy debates. The visibility and power of these movements illustrate a growing consciousness among marginalized communities regarding the persistent 'veil' that blinds mainstream society to racial injustice (Freelon et al., 2016). Furthermore, social media platforms facilitate the dissemination of these protests, creating a digital space where race, power, and resistance converge, embodying Du Bois’s assertion that awareness and articulation are crucial to dismantling the veil.

In summary, while America has experienced significant legal and social changes over the past century, the persistence of systemic racism in policing vividly demonstrates that the 'color-line' endures. The disproportionate targeting of Black communities, reinforced policies, and powerful social movements all reflect the continuing relevance of Du Bois's metaphor of the veil. Analyzing these phenomena through the lens of race and power reveals that the societal barriers Du Bois described are still very much operative, although their forms have evolved. Understanding this continuity underscores the importance of ongoing activism and policy reform to dismantle racial inequalities and realize a more equitable society.

References

• Alexander, M. (2010). The new Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. The New Press.
• Freelon, D., McIlwain, C. D., & McIlwain, C. (2016). #BlackLivesMatter: Crises and organizing in the digital age. Harvard Kennedy School.
• Rios, V. M. (2011). Punished: Policing the American city. NYU Press.
• The New York Times. (2020). What we know about George Floyd’s death. https://www.nytimes.com
• The Washington Post. (2020). Analysis of police violence data. https://www.washingtonpost.com