The Gift of Black Folk

by W.E.B. Du Bois

Although the Civil War marked an end to slavery in the United States, it would take another fifty years to establish the country's civil rights movement. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois was among the first generation of African-American scholars to spearhead this movement towards equality. As cofounder of the NAACP, he sought to initiate equality through social change, and as a talented writer, he created books and essays that provide a revealing glimpse into the black experience of the times. In The Gift of Black Folk-one of Du Bois' most important works-he recounts the remarkable history of African-Americans and their many unsung contributions to American society.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Race, Classics, African American, Philosophy, Sociology

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1924

About the author

In 1868, William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (pronounced 'doo-boyz') was born in Massachusetts. He attended Fisk College in Nashville, then earned his BA in 1890 and his MS in 1891 from Harvard. Du Bois studied at the University of Berlin, then earned his doctorate in history from Harvard in 1894. He taught economics and history at Atlanta University from 1897-1910. The Souls of Black Folk (1903) made his name, in which he urged black Americans to stand up for their educational and economic rights. Du Bois was a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and edited the NAACP's official journal, "Crisis," from 1910 to 1934. Du Bois turned "Crisis" into the foremost black literary journal. The black nationalist expanded his interests to global concerns, and is called the "father of Pan-Africanism" for organizing international black congresses.

Although he used some religious metaphor and expressions in some of his books and writings, Du Bois called himself a freethinker. In "On Christianity," a posthumously published essay, Du Bois critiqued the black church: "The theology of the average colored church is basing itself far too much upon 'Hell and Damnation'—upon an attempt to scare people into being decent and threatening them with the terrors of death and punishment. We are still trained to believe a good deal that is simply childish in theology. The outward and visible punishment of every wrong deed that men do, the repeated declaration that anything can be gotten by anyone at any time by prayer." Du Bois became a member of the Communist Party and officially repudiated his U.S. citizenship at the end of his life, dying in his adopted country of Ghana. D. 1963.

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Reviews

[Larry Bassett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by this audible book. The author WEB Du Bois is well known, but I was not aware that although he was born in 1868, he lived until 1963. This book includes the history of the Negro as he commonly refers to them, as well as colored people, from the 1500s in North Central and South America, as well as a number of nearby islands.

This book might clearly be labeled as the telling of the invisible history of the Negro.. While we may think that people of color first came to the north American continent as slaves from Africa, we would be wrong in our understanding of history. And if we thought, the history of Negroes began, and ended with slavery, we would again be very ill informed.

WEB Du Bois gives us many facts and figures and names of Negroes, who had an impact on the immediate and long-term history we have managed to mess in our instruction and education. If you wonder about his sources, there are many footnotes. His message repeatedly is that there were people of color of consequence throughout the history of our part of the world that most white people do not begin to know.

Black explorers
Black labor
Black soldiers
The emancipation of democracy
The reconstruction of freedom
The freedom of womanhood
American folksong
Negro art and literature
The gift of the spirit

In all of these chapters/areas du Bois re-orients our vision of history, and outlines the correct place of the Negro in all of these areas. He gives us a point of view that has been absent from our awareness, history and education.

[Shea Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Remarkable and fascinating. A lot of interesting ideas and pieces of history to dig out from this at a later date but Du Bois does a good job of sketching the incredible influence of the African on America.
I and many in our country need to work harder to know and understand history.

[C.J. Bow]

A comprehensive and incredible look into black excellence in America dating before the arrival of Christopher Columbus up until the 1920's.

Stats heavy and rich on information, this is a stunning record of history on the contribution, and impact, black folks in America.

[David Withun · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[joecool · Rating 5 out of 5]

Du Bois powerfully, necessarily, and humbly reminds the souls of America that what we consider so “American”—freedom, democracy, Christianity, music, etc.—are but the birth child of the African American. Our history books neglect to credit the contribution of the blacks to the creation of America yet, as Du Bois ultimately points out, there is no America with all its freedom, democracy, and Christianity without these folk. Published exactly 100 years ago (1924), this work is still just as—if not more—relevant as it was a century ago.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over a century after being written, Du Bois still is relevant and worth reading. Good stuff.

[Meeca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a Gift

This book itself is a gift to Black people and all people. It was an honor to read and is still very relevant today in the 21st century

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't feel like I can critique this, but I will offer some observations. This was written in 1924, and in both language and attitude, it is a product of its time. What strikes me the most is that while celebrating the accomplishments and achievements of Black Folk, it is done in an almost apologetic way. So many facts and history not commonly taught, but if I had to sum it up in one sentence, it would be "we served you well, now treat us like humans".

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book had a different tone than his previous books. He seemed much more subdued and hopeful for the future. Even though it was published in 1924, it is still very applicable to today. I did not have a very extensive knowledge of black history in America and he enlightened me. Du Bois presents a well written book on the contributions of black people to the creation and establishment of the United States, but some of his arguments needed could have used better examples. I wish he had discussed more the chapter on the women's suffrage movement. However, the passage he included about Soujourner Truth was one of those moments that gave me goose bumps. There was so much power in her words.

[ERIC C. BAILEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Revelation of Truth

This is my first reading from W. E. B. Dude Bois, though I have known of him through historical references. This book was poignant and revealing of so many common truths about the Black experience in America and the impacts that Blacks have had on American society as a whole. Though written from his perspective during his era, much of it remains true and applicable today. I recommend this book to anyone interested in an objective account of pre- and post-Civil War America. Interestingly, I found it to be what many today are calling "Critical Race Theory." It is in fact a recitation of American history - a history that many people choose to ignore.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provided a more upbeat history than I expected, certainly more than Tuchman’s A Distant Mirror, the last book I read. Du Bois’ book was first published in 1924, the paperback edition I read, in 1970. Given his long life (1868 – 1963), I wondered if he might have become disillusioned in the years after he wrote it. In one sense he must have, as he eventually left the country to live his last few years in Ghana, after being hounded in the U.S. for his communist sympathies. In this respect he resembles his contemporary, the great singer Paul Robeson, who left to live in the Soviet Union.
It is interesting to note the change in language since its 1924 publication. The words negro, black, colored, are all used but African – American, a much later term, is not. Nor do I recall the word “racist” being used; it may have, but if so, it is very uncommon. Certainly, he writes about attitudes and some people who could be so described. Our language and sensitivities have evolved, but not necessarily in a meaningful or useful way. In outline this is straightforward American History, as shown by the chapter titles:
The Black Explorers
Black Labor
Black Soldiers
The Emancipation of Democracy
The Reconstruction of Freedom
The Freedom of Womanhood
The American Folksong
Negro Art and Literature
The Gift of the Spirit
In every chapter he introduces the reader to many people who deserve to be better known, or even known at all. That they are not forgotten is the gift of this book to us. He died about year before the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

[Amy Lindberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recounts the history and contributions of Black people in American history. This book was written in 1924, which makes it very strange to read in 2022. Obviously there has been more history since then. Contributions of Black soldiers in America - ends in WWI. Music - the peak is ragtime. Movements about social change - until women's suffrage. But obviously this was a groundbreaking work of research in its time and it's a fascinating time capsule.

I'm sure many people have used this book as a jumping-off point to learn more about any of the intriguing names DuBois drops and hints of stories he tells. It's a great overview of broad concepts and has some very moving passages. Plenty of names to note for further historical readin!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1924- I had to rate this book 5 stars for the amount of research that went into this book at a time when there was no internet and I am sure records were difficult to get. The history in the making of America by African American Slaves. The struggles and step by step progress of human rights and civil rights for ALL Americans and immigrants. Reminds me of all we have learned as a democracy and or progress and are continued learning and progress. I got this book for free on Gutenberg Project on my Kindle. I read it as part of African American History Month.

[Issadora · Rating 5 out of 5]

African & African American presence

Wow wow wow!!

I learned so much About our history that’s suppressed and it was startling. I wish this was required reading in, at minimum, middle school. Of course, hegemony rules .

Those of us who ‘get it’ IMHO, have a personal responsibility to pass the book, author, bits and pieces of quotes that can be the source of inspiration, pride and respect for self, our communities and the universe!

Read It! You likely Will Be inspired

[Malakai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just finished Mein Kampf, I decided to pick up this book, which was published the year before MK.
That was night and day.
Du Bois cites historical events, public figures and dates of said events. No ad hominem, hateful ramblings here.
This book inspires hope, seeing the good arising from an oppressed people, struggling to exist despite the continued injustices leveled against them.
Another truly remarkable person.

[Carter Bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning how black Americans helped to shape our democracy and country, especially from a perspective in the early twentieth century. One of the things I found most interesting was that the requirement to have property to be able to vote and how that law was changed in large due to emancipated black people not being in position to have property. It does read a bit like a history textbook in some places which is the only thing I had a hard time with

[Joshua Pearsall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a lot of history in here, and though it's not everyone's cup of tea it is an important of American history and I do encourage at least skimming through it. You can find free audio versions on Librivox, and the free youtube Librivox video does show the different sections so you can easily move around to the sections that might interest you. Worth looking at.

[Kia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful and well written documentation explaining the impact of Africans being forced into America and shaping the country in so many aspects during the 1800s and onward during WEB Du Bois’ lifetime. A must read for those wanting to get an honest look into the macro level of life in early America and the impact of black folk in it.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a dense book, but a very important book. Nearly every page is highlighted and/or underlined with annotations. There’s a lot of information and some of the terminology is a bit dated. Nonetheless, you will learn a lot by reading this.

[Kris Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

History Lessons that not taught in most schools.

This is the history lesson seldom taught in schools. Excellent book with historical references. Now to my next book. Not sure what that will be.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I'm just a "novel" kind of girl. This wasn't interesting enough to keep me reading. I'm sure others will really enjoy it!

[mark mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic that urgently needs an affordable and accessible new Black Lives Matter-era edition.

[Matthew? · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading as i try to understand african american identity. This is a book that is concise but dense, educational yet entertaining. I will return to this book again and again. Need to buy.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots learned

A must read for all! Should be taught in schools. I have wanted to read this for a while. Should have read this sooner.

[Carol Stockton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Great historical points. There were many facts that I was not aware of and was never discussed in all my years of schooling.

[Lisa Houlihan]

The tone is dated but for the same reason the book is more valuable for being nearer in time.

[Meesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was very apprehensive reading a book originally published 100 years ago. Such a great book.

[Sandra Oldfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toward the end this becomes more of a laundry list of important black Americans, but overall it was an important book to be written in the early parts of the 20th century.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very well-written book. I haven't read a lot by this author, but I would be interested in reading more.

[Kayla Barton Hadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great review of the history of the US and how it was built on the back of slaves and how the civil rights movement is for all of us.