Lit response

Chapter one in W.E.B. Dubois’, The Souls Of Black Folk, conveys an underlain message to his audience that he is proud to be an African-American and the wonders Blacks can achieve are often misconstrued or underappreciated; that his duty as a Black man of such an underprivileged race is to bring those wonders into light and continue to journey of success. Throughout the short first chapter, Dubois does very little to persuade or guide his readers into thought that he pities himself for not having the “privilege” in being accepted amongst white society; in fact, he states the very opposite. I had thereafter no desire to tear down that veil, to creep through. (Page 44) The veil Dubois speaks of is symbolic of the imaginary blindfold white America had placed on all Negros to shield them from ever seeing the true joys and wonders of the American Nation because of their social status. Dubois states that after the incident concerning his ostracism from his white peers, he had no desire to every “creep” through or break free from that veil that blinded him from the world he was unknown to. Later, he makes it apparent that he enjoyed being singled out amongst the group of all white faces due to the fact that he could stand out and be different. The sky was bluest when I could beat my mates at examination time.(Page 44) suggests that Dubois enjoyed when he could disband any prejudgments his peers had against him because of the color of his skin and prove that he was just as good, if not better, than they all were.
A particular section of the chapter shows an underlain message that Dubois enjoyed the richness of his diverse background due to the fact that he was two-parts of two great nations. He was American and African. Two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings, (Page 45)The ability to be both an American and Black man who’s history goes back as far as the Sphinx of Egypt tell the reader that Dubois enjoyed being different because he was two great beings wrapped up in one dark body. As much as he clings and accepts his Negro skin just as much as his American, title, he does now disown or outdo the other with any less importance. He would not Africanize America for America has too much to teach the world (Page 45) and he would not bleach his Negro soul for he knows the Negro has a message to teach the world (Page 45). This intense passion coming from Dubois shows he rather be African-American than any other race because of the richness and uniqueness within his blood. He is two people merged into one body and with that comes immense pride from both his Nationalities.
Another suggestion of pride coming from Dubois comes from his reference to Negroes being the "seventh son" amongst six other races of people. This is symbolic of the way the Negro views himself from the eyes of another and makes his judgements about himself based off what he is taught and shown through through the eyes of his superiors. The "seventh son" reference makes note that there are six other instances when groups of people had to make preconceptions about themselves based off what others had told them about their people, the Negro being no different in being so judgemental about themselves based off the racisim and bigotry from the group of people above them in power. Dubois' pride comes from the underlying message that despite the past of African-American self-doubt, his people are coming to term with who they are and what their history is without the hearsay from white America. He makes reference to the black man's strength and drive that keeps his sanity and persistance in finding himself and what and who he is without the "veil" from white America. One ever feels his twoness, -- an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder. (Chapter 1, page 45) This "twoness" helps the Negro differinciate his African side from his American exsitance and find the past of his people and the great things they achieved without having a mental collapse in stability.
Reference to the Sphinx of Egypt and Ethiopia the Shadowy demonstrates that miraculous feats that undermined Black race has done that are viewed and glorified by the world. The success of having a wonder of the world and a land that is fluid and thriving with great glory is often misunderstood as a Arab feat or done by another race that is not close to being African. Dubois states that the accomlishments of the Sphinx and a great African nation was created by the very people whose ancestors just got released from the chains of submission and slavery. These feats, however, are often overlooked because of the color of the creator's skin and the plauged thoughts of the people who deny the rightful owners their due glory. Dubois shows that despite all the faded glory of the Black man, he is proud to be a man of a race that is underappreciated and underglorified; though he would prefer to see his people have the respect and admiration they deserve from their past generations greatest accomlishments.