# W. Du Bois

## Biography

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in 1868, was a seminal American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, and author. A brilliant scholar, he became the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1895 after also studying at Fisk University and the University of Berlin. Du Bois dedicated his life to combating racial inequality and advocating for African American rights. He was a co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909 and served as the influential editor of its magazine, The Crisis, for decades. Through his extensive writings, including the groundbreaking The Souls of Black Folk and The Philadelphia Negro, Du Bois challenged prevailing ideas about race and education, notably criticizing Booker T. Washington's accommodationist approach. He championed higher education for Black Americans and was a fervent advocate for women's suffrage and Pan-Africanism. Du Bois spent his final years in Ghana, where he passed away in 1963, leaving an indelible legacy on civil rights.

## Books

- [Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil](https://samolit.com/books/96306)
- [The Souls of Black Folk](https://samolit.com/books/95888)