Wednesday, November 13, 2019

W.E.B. Dubois: His Vision For Freedom Essay -- Racial Relations, Afric

African Americans during the 1900s lived lives full of uncertainty. They were no longer slaves, but still looked upon by many as inferior to the white race. However in this period of tension, there were men who sought to bring their race to new heights. One of these men was W.E.B Du Bois. Few have influenced the lives of African Americans in such a way as W.E.B Du Bois. The vision he had for African Americans was one that many found great hope in. He sought for the day that his race for finally have civil equality in every aspect of life. In the time of Du Bois, African Americans may have been considered free but still lacked many civil liberties, that the whites were easily granted. One of the biggest civil liberties they lacked was voting rights. To Du Bois voting for African Americans was one of his greatest hopes, he believed that â€Å"with the right to vote goes everything† (NMS 1). If African Americans could gain this right, the doors to other civil equalities would then open. However this was not such an easy tasks, there were so many â€Å"flagrant...political scandals that reputable men began to leave politics alone† (Son of Masters 5). The African American men and women had been so put down by the whites, that voting to them became too much of a hassle. Even though views toward voting seemed hopeless and a great hassle, Du Bois spoke out the with the biggest question of them all â€Å"It is possible, and probable, the nine million of men can make effective progress in economic lines if the y are deprived of political rights† (Du Bois 5)? How could African Americans build their lives, if they had no say in any of it? It was clear to Du Bois that voting was essential, without it his people would not be able to live equally among th... ...he separation and how these ugly vision that the races had of each other, made Du Bois realize that if African Americans could again regain the direct contact they once had with whites they may also begin to see the good in each other, and with this would come the general civil right they so desperately needed. They would be able, to choose who â€Å"to walk, to talk and be with (.NMS 2), where they wanted to watch a show, even how they got to that show. The general freedoms of everyday life is what Du Bois wished to see. African Americans in the 1900s may have not reached complete freedom just yet, but thanks to the men like Du Bois who took a stand, all hope was not lost. Du Bois brought a vision that with small victories in voting, education, and overall daily freedoms, the African American people would finally be seen as equal to their white brothers and sisters.

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