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W. E. B. Du Bois: A Twentieth-Century Life
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, perhaps best known for his seminal work The Souls of Black Folk and as the founding editor of the NAACP?s groundbreaking magazine The Crisis, was ever a soul in motion for justice. Whether he was protesting Jim Crow laws and lynch mobs in the Deep South, advocating for the end of European Colonialism, or campaigning for world peace, Du Bois was always speaking out for others. This fascinating Up Close biography by award-winning author Tonya Bolden tells the story of how one man?tirelessly and never quietly? fought for equality until his death at age ninety-five.
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Hardcover
First published December 26, 2008
2 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Tonya Bolden
83 books190 followersAuthor and publisher Tonya Wilyce Bolden was born on March 1, 1959, in New York City to Georgia Bolden, a homemaker, and Willie Bolden, a garment center shipping manager. Bolden grew up in Harlem in a musical family and loved to read; she attended Public M.E.S. 146, an elementary school in Manhattan, and then graduated from the Chapin School, a private secondary school, in Manhattan in 1976. Bolden attended Princeton University in New Jersey, and, in 1981, obtained her B.A. degree in Slavic languages and literature with a Russian focus. Bolden was also a University Scholar and received the Nicholas Bachko, Jr. Scholarship Prize.
Upon graduating from Princeton University, Bolden began working as a salesperson for Charles Alan, Incorporated, a dress manufacturer, while working towards her M.A. degree at Columbia University. In 1985, Bolden earned her degree in Slavic languages and literature, as well as a Certificate for Advanced Study of the Soviet Union from the Harriman Institute; after this she began working as an office coordinator for Raoulfilm, Inc., assisting in the research and development of various film and literary products. Bolden worked as an English instructor at Malcolm-King College and New Rochelle School of New Resources while serving as newsletter editor of the HARKline, a homeless shelter newsletter.
In 1990, Bolden wrote her first book, The Family Heirloom Cookbook. In 1992, Bolden co-authored a children’s book entitled Mama, I Want To Sing along with Vy Higginsen, based on Higginsen’s musical. Bolden continued publishing throughout the 1990s, releasing Starting a Business from your Home, Mail-Order and Direct Response, The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters, And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women, American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm and The Champ. Bolden became editor of the Quarterly Black Review of Books in 1994, and served as an editor for 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, in 1998. Bolden’s writing career became even more prolific in the following decade; a partial list of her works include:, Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists, Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl, MLK: Journey of a King, Take-Off: American All-Girl Bands During World War II, and George Washington Carver, a book she authored in conjunction with an exhibit about the famous African American inventor created by The Field Museum in Chicago.
(source; http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biogr...)
Upon graduating from Princeton University, Bolden began working as a salesperson for Charles Alan, Incorporated, a dress manufacturer, while working towards her M.A. degree at Columbia University. In 1985, Bolden earned her degree in Slavic languages and literature, as well as a Certificate for Advanced Study of the Soviet Union from the Harriman Institute; after this she began working as an office coordinator for Raoulfilm, Inc., assisting in the research and development of various film and literary products. Bolden worked as an English instructor at Malcolm-King College and New Rochelle School of New Resources while serving as newsletter editor of the HARKline, a homeless shelter newsletter.
In 1990, Bolden wrote her first book, The Family Heirloom Cookbook. In 1992, Bolden co-authored a children’s book entitled Mama, I Want To Sing along with Vy Higginsen, based on Higginsen’s musical. Bolden continued publishing throughout the 1990s, releasing Starting a Business from your Home, Mail-Order and Direct Response, The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters, And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women, American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm and The Champ. Bolden became editor of the Quarterly Black Review of Books in 1994, and served as an editor for 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, in 1998. Bolden’s writing career became even more prolific in the following decade; a partial list of her works include:, Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists, Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl, MLK: Journey of a King, Take-Off: American All-Girl Bands During World War II, and George Washington Carver, a book she authored in conjunction with an exhibit about the famous African American inventor created by The Field Museum in Chicago.
(source; http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biogr...)
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 2, 2014
Holy shit. Du Bois did more in his lifetime than ten people could do in ten lifetimes. What an inspirational dude. I never knew anything about Du Bois, because public schools in America have very little interest in teaching its students about strong, influential leaders who challenged the status quo. Having read this biography, I'm spurred on to learn more about other brave people who have not been given the posthumous visibility and credit they deserve. Anyone recommend a good Marcus Garvey biography?
October 25, 2018
Gavin Stegman
Beth Gulley
10/10/2018
ENG 106
W.E.B Dubois is about African Americans during the reconstruction era in the south.
This book talks about the process of the reconstruction and the social impact it had on both African Americans and Whites. The book talks about the many conflicts between the black folk and whites empathizing the many social injustices that the black community has faced. Examples of these issues are the KKK, slavery through debt, unequal education and many more terrible acts of inequality. Reading about Dubois unique perspective gives you an idea of how it felt to be an African American in the reconstruction era, it's almost like you are in his shoes experiencing it. Imagining a world like this actually existing in the past is crazy to think about how different society was back in the day. The book also discusses the governmental processes of passing laws that would benefit black folk but then with Dubois going into detail with the effects and explaining if it really helped or not. I originally read this book as part of a history assignment and it was pretty confusing at first. I had to reread many sentences since it's such a old book and english was a fair bit different back then compared to now but once you get it there is a lot of strength his words. An example of this is this quote One ever feels his twoness,—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body. I feel this quote has a lot of meaning for the individual black person it is a constant fight inside them to where it is tearing them apart or at least that is how I perceived it. During his time he covered very touchy issues that many people were simply too afraid or arrogant to listen to. Covering those topics you cannot help but admire him for speaking the truth. After reading this book I felt like I had a much better understanding of the reconstruction era and I highly recommend everyone should read this book. I would give this book a 4.5 out of 5.
Beth Gulley
10/10/2018
ENG 106
W.E.B Dubois is about African Americans during the reconstruction era in the south.
This book talks about the process of the reconstruction and the social impact it had on both African Americans and Whites. The book talks about the many conflicts between the black folk and whites empathizing the many social injustices that the black community has faced. Examples of these issues are the KKK, slavery through debt, unequal education and many more terrible acts of inequality. Reading about Dubois unique perspective gives you an idea of how it felt to be an African American in the reconstruction era, it's almost like you are in his shoes experiencing it. Imagining a world like this actually existing in the past is crazy to think about how different society was back in the day. The book also discusses the governmental processes of passing laws that would benefit black folk but then with Dubois going into detail with the effects and explaining if it really helped or not. I originally read this book as part of a history assignment and it was pretty confusing at first. I had to reread many sentences since it's such a old book and english was a fair bit different back then compared to now but once you get it there is a lot of strength his words. An example of this is this quote One ever feels his twoness,—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body. I feel this quote has a lot of meaning for the individual black person it is a constant fight inside them to where it is tearing them apart or at least that is how I perceived it. During his time he covered very touchy issues that many people were simply too afraid or arrogant to listen to. Covering those topics you cannot help but admire him for speaking the truth. After reading this book I felt like I had a much better understanding of the reconstruction era and I highly recommend everyone should read this book. I would give this book a 4.5 out of 5.
February 16, 2017
It is hard to keep track of Du Bois's many accomplishments - he was truly an amazing man. But like any human he had his faults, which Bolden notes along with his achievements. I didn't like the author's writing style, meant to relate to teens - I found it too slangy and detracted from the authority of the biography.
December 5, 2013
The purpose of this book was to inform the reader about this man's great achievements in life. The author wanted the reader to know why and how W.E.B Du Bois got to where he got and how he had gotten there. The theme of this book is that no matter what gender, race, or sexuality you should try your best. This is implied by Mr. Bois being an south african american in the south after slavery was abolished. He was very smart and with that even being a negro he had gotten into Harvard to get his PhD. The style of the book is a description because in each chapter it describes the time period in his life and what he was going through and how he was working to get passed that hardship or challenge in that time frame.
April 21, 2009
I'm only on the second chapter and I have to say I really don't like the author's style. I've already lost track of a few things. It's supposed to be written for a teen audience, but I think she's trying a little to hard. She's award winning so I hope that it get's a little better.
Update: Okay, I just can't continue to read this book. It's very slow and dry. Although I'm not a huge fan of biographies this one seemed to have potential, but for me it just didn't measure up. For such an interesting individual the book simply falls flat.
Update: Okay, I just can't continue to read this book. It's very slow and dry. Although I'm not a huge fan of biographies this one seemed to have potential, but for me it just didn't measure up. For such an interesting individual the book simply falls flat.
November 2, 2011
The writing is choppy. The book is targeted to teens and the author tries to give them a quick lesson in 95 years of history as well as the particulars of the life of WEB DuBois. I work in a middle school library and will be offering this book as an overview of African- American history at the beginning of the 20th century to some of my tougher readers. For students who just need a biography of an individual, I will probably offer other choices.
October 25, 2013
While the overall tale of W.E. Du Bois (the B. was of his own contriving) is interesting, the author's description of people is maddening to the point of anger. I very much wished she had not kept calling Du Bois "Lovingly Papa" or his mother "Dear Mam", etc. The grammar in this book is questionable and I would hesitate to give something that promotes idiocy in terms of bad grammar. Moreover, the text is politically biased (though subtle) and that is ever-increasingly annoying.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews