More than 35 years out of bondage, African Americans struggled to find their place in American society. While some recognition of civil equality occurred, there were still elements of American society more comfortable with the antebellum status of Blacks as chattel property. WEB DuBois’ collection of essays found in The Souls of Black Folk illustrates the complexities of being an “African in America” at the beginning of the twentieth century. This talk highlights the book’s enduring legacy and the the theme of racial identity woven throughout DuBois’ essays.
