The Negro (The Oxford W. E. B. Du Bois) - Softcover

Du Bois, W. E. B.; Thorton, John K.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199387141 ISBN 13: 9780199387144

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2014

Synopsis

W. E. B. Du Bois was a public intellectual, sociologist, and activist on behalf of the African American community. He profoundly shaped black political culture in the United States through his founding role in the NAACP, as well as internationally through the Pan-African movement. Du Bois's sociological and historical research on African-American communities and culture broke ground in many areas, including the history of the post-Civil War Reconstruction period. Du Bois was also a prolific author of novels, autobiographical accounts, innumerable editorials and journalistic pieces, and several works of history.

Intended as an accessible, up-to-date introduction to African American history by its 1915 publisher, The Negro was much more to W. E. B. Du Bois. The chance to write on African American History for a wide audience became his chance to write a manifesto on African history worldwide. Du Bois focuses on the continent of Africa, giving justice to its oft-neglected positive history. Drawing on anthropological and linguistic literature of the time, Du Bois captures a succinct portrait of African and African American history ready for any reader no matter their prior knowledge. His argument enters the narrative fully, revealing his quest for the vindication of black history. With a series introduction by editor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and an introduction by John K. Thornton, this edition is essential for anyone interested in African American history.

About this title

From the Publisher:

We are pleased to make this important book available once again with a specially commissioned afterword that indicates for readers and students how and where this book has influenced scholarship and historical research and why this book has more currency today than ever before.

From the Author:

The time has not yet come for a complete history of the Negro peoples. Archaeological research in Africa has just begun, and many sources of information in Arabian, Portuguese, and other tongues are not fully at our command; and, too, it must frankly be confessed, racial prejudice against darker peoples is still too strong in so-called civilized centers for judicial appraisement of the peoples of Africa. Much intensive monographic work in history and science is needed to clear mooted points and quiet the controversialist who mistakes present personal desire for scientific proof.

Nevertheless, I have not been able to withstand the temptation to essay such short general statement of the main known facts and their fair interpretation as shall enable the general reader to know as men a sixth or more of the human race. Manifestly so short a story must be mainly conclusions and generalizations with but meager indication of authorities and underlying arguments. Possibly, if the Public will, a later and larger book may be more satisfactory on these points. -- W.E. Burghardt Du Bois, New York City, February 1, 1915

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0199387141
• ISBN 13: 9780199387144
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 166
• Editor: Gates Jr. Henry Louis