W. E. B. Du Bois

Date of Birth: February 23, 1868

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: August 27, 1963

Biography

W. E. B. Du Bois, born William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, was an influential African-American writer, sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist. He was born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Du Bois was a pioneering figure in the fight for civil rights and is perhaps best known for his seminal work “The Souls of Black Folk,” published in 1903. He was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University and was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. Throughout his life, Du Bois was committed to the cause of equality and used his writing and scholarly work to challenge the prevailing notions of racial superiority and the systemic oppression of African Americans. His academic pursuits were complemented by his activism, which included efforts to improve education, economic conditions, and political representation for African Americans. Du Bois was also a prolific writer and authored numerous books, essays, and articles addressing issues of race, class, and social justice. In addition to “The Souls of Black Folk,” his notable works include “Black Reconstruction in America,” “The Philadelphia Negro,” and “Dusk of Dawn.” W. E. B. Du Bois passed away on August 27, 1963, in Accra, Ghana, where he had moved in his later years.

5 Interesting Facts about W. E. B. Du Bois

1. W. E. B. Du Bois was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

2. He co-founded the NAACP in 1909 and was a key figure in its early development.

3. Du Bois was a proponent of Pan-Africanism and organized several Pan-African Congresses to address the issues facing people of African descent worldwide.

4. He moved to Ghana in 1961 and became a citizen of the country, where he worked on the Encyclopedia Africana.

5. Du Bois was a strong advocate for higher education for African Americans and believed it was essential for achieving equality.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from W. E. B. Du Bois

1. “The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.”

2. “Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States.”

3. “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line.”

4. “Education is that whole system of human training within and without the school house walls, which molds and develops men.”

5. “To be a poor man is hard, but to be a poor race in a land of dollars is the very bottom of hardships.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

W. E. B. Du Bois’s net worth is not widely documented, but as an academic and activist, his wealth was likely modest. His highest net worth is estimated to be around $10,000 at the time of his death.

Children

W. E. B. Du Bois had two children with his first wife, Nina Gomer: 1. Burghardt Gomer Du Bois (1906-1906) – He died as an infant. 2. Yolande Nina Du Bois (1909-1961) – She was an educator and married poet Countee Cullen.