W.E.B. Du Bois is an iconic name in American history. Sociologist, historian, social activist, and one of the founders of the NAACP, Du Bois' 'The Souls of Black Folk' remains an extraordinary collection of essays that outline the reality of race relations and the lives of Black communities throughout the early 20th century in the United States.
As one of the most influential works of his time and beyond, the book also outlines a key concept called "double-consciousness." This term refers to the challenge and discomfort that Black Americans face when straddling the identities of Black culture and the conformity necessary within a dominantly white society. This fascinating concept not only captures the reality of life for many marginalized people mere decades ago, but also provides insight into how power structures continue to require some groups to fold to the norms of a dominant group, and the implications of such.
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