What's the Word? W. E. B. Du Bois
Series: What's the Word? Two half-hour programs celebrating Black History Month
From: Modern Language Association
Length: 00:29:10
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Piece Description
W.E.B. Du Bois
Many consider W.E.B. Du Bois the most important African American leader in the first half of the twentieth century. A sociologist, historian, author, teacher, activist, and co- founder of the NAACP and its magazine The Crisis, his influence was profound. His ground-breaking book, The Souls of Black Folk, has been called the foundational text of African American studies. On this program, Pulitzer prize winner David Levering Lewis tells us about W.E.B. Du Bois’s early life and the years that led up to the publication of The Souls of Black Folk; Marlon B. Ross explores some of the social and political factors that Du Bois responded to in the book; and Sheryl Townsend Gilkes discusses the book’s continuing influence.Well-suited to Black History Month in February.
Fifteen- and thirty-second promos available.
Additional Credits
Technical Director: Duke Markos
Production Coordinator: Lee Morgan
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Posted on December 12, 2006 at 05:36 PM | Permalink
Review of What's the Word? W. E. B. Du Bois
Impressive profile of W.E.B. Du Bois.
It is ideal to run during Black History Month, or any time for that matter as his story deserves to be heard.
Throughout this 29-minute piece, you hear from three intellectuals/academics who explore the different phases of Du Bois' life and his influence.
Sprinkled throughout are short excerpts from a 1961 interivew of Du Bois. I wanted to hear more.
If you're going to profile one of the most important African American leaders in the 20th century, let's hear more of him.
The most interesting part of this piece is hearing Du Bois on the subject of lynching.
Producer Sally Placksin does a solid job but perhaps more texture could have been added to this piece by having additional readings of Du Bois' writings.
The final interview with Cheryl Gilkes is also engaging and passionate.