The Souls of Black Folk

Markeia Scruggs

January 6, 2010

Lit Response (The Souls of Black Folk)

Ms. Brown-Ap English 3

“The Souls of Black Folk”

“The Souls of Black Folk,” written by W.E.B. DuBois, indepthly depicts the atmosphere of social realism during the time. Many hints are given to define the actual time in history in which this book takes place. Incredible diction is used to further the reader’s understanding of the overall topic and message of the book. The book has a huge appeal to pathos because he sides with black folk and expects the reader to do the same. DuBois creates a spectrum of the social and racial issues happening during that time and shows how blacks’ role in America is belittled and completely unnoticed.

In the beginning of “The Souls of Black Folk” DuBois deems himself as a normal child with a normal life but he’s soon enlightened on the actual issue of his being. Because he is black he learns that many things are different about him and many things will be different for him in life. For instance, “Then it dawned upon me with a certain suddenness that I was different from the others; or like a mayhap, in heart and life and longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil.”(chap.1, page 44) He finally sees how he’s different from the other children and how his life will be different from now on. He feels isolated from the rest of society, his classmates, because he is different from the rest of them. He comes to see that he is different and sees how people who are different are treated differently. This ties into the whole colored people being treated badly because they look different scenario.

Another problem presented in society besides debasement was lack of or unequal opportunity for blacks. DuBois states, “for the woeds I longed for, and all their dazzling opportunities were theirs, not mine. But they should not keep these prizes, I said; some, all , I would wrest from them.” He was determined to go against the odds and predestinations for African Americans by taking what was believed to be his. By taking on a new attitude about his opportunities, he could obtain his goals. In this quote he also describes how these great opportunities aren’t supposed to be his because he’s black folk and can’t be obtained by blacks but it’s surely untrue.

African American’s struggle with themselves and God was another huge problem in society. With all the tension of Whites belittling their stature and unimportance in society, they began to question their own origin. “Why did God make me an outcast and a stranger in mine own house?”(chapter 1, page 9) He asks how can he be placed in such a place deemed to be his home, yet the Whites make him feel unwelcome. Better yet, he asks how can THEY bring US here, tell US this is our home and make US think we don’t belong. He struggles with this question and in a way tests God’s authority by asking such a question.

To conclude, social realism is presented continuously in “The Souls of Black Folk.” Many problems in society many years ago were emphasized and described in detail with good diction to get the point across. DuBois recreates the issues of society with clever word choice and crisp description.