The Souls of Black Folk

Focusing on the intellectual foundations of the black freedom struggle, this classic work by W. E. B. Du Bois argues for the importance of higher education in uplifting the African American community, contributing to the emergence of a black middle class. Du Bois also explores the global implications of race, anticipating pan-Africanism and colonial revolutions. His critique of daily racial experiences laid groundwork for future studies on race and 'whiteness,' establishing this text as a cornerstone of sociology and African-American literature.