Play Audiobook Sample
The Souls of Black Folk Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(4.22) - 93 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
"The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line," writes Du Bois, in one of the most prophetic works in all of American literature. First published in 1903, this collection of fifteen essays dared to describe the racism that prevailed at that time in America—and to demand an end to it. Du Bois' writing draws on his early experiences, from teaching in the hills of Tennessee, to the death of his infant son, to his historic break with the conciliatory position of Booker T. Washington.
Du Bois received a doctorate from Harvard in 1895 and became a professor of economics and history at Atlanta University. His dynamic leadership in the cause of social reform on behalf of his fellow blacks anticipated and inspired much of the black activism of the 1960s. The Souls of Black Folk is a classic in the literature of civil rights.
Download and start listening now!
"The amount of time it took me to get through this book is a testament to its brilliance, and i'm only saddened by the certainty much of that brilliance was lost on me. Du Bois's sentences are written with such painstaking eloquence that often I found myself reading and re-reading them, unable to discern their meaning. What I did understand all to well, though, were his observations on issues forced upon people of color that have, unfortunately, transcended time ( American/Negro double-consciousness, the veiled existence, etc.) I understand, though, that Du Bois's middle class New England upbringing allowed him privileges unknown to southern blacks. That said, he also later ventured south to the nation's black-belt to work as a teacher; it is ultimately up to the reader to decide if the experience of living among southern blacks, viewing first-hand the sufferings unique to the blacks in the south, was enough to give Du Bois' rhetoric credibility. Nevertheless- unlike his rival, Booker T. Washington- Du Bois delved beyond the surface of the black condition to offer explanations, not criticisms, for the short-comings of a people just one or two generations removed from slavery. In fact that's entirely the purpose of The Souls of Black Folk- to describe fully what it meant to be black during the turn of the 20th century, to detail the social and political restrictions placed on blacks that thus sabotaged their development as a race, and, above all, it illustrates the ambitions and the humanity of a race of people still thought to be subordinate. This book has left me asking myself, "what can I do to make a difference for my people?" The Souls of Black Folk is undoubtedly a difficult text, but reading it is a reminder to appreciate those new-found opportunities granted some of us by the luck of being born into the latter half of the 20th century. More than that, it's an encouragement to remove a barrier of two for the next generation."
— Judah (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“Thanks to W. E. B. Du Bois’ commitment and foresight—and the intellectual excellence expressed in this timeless literary gem—black Americans can today look in the mirror and rejoice in their beautiful black, brown, and beige reflections.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“[A] masterpiece.”
— Booklist -
“One hundred years after publication, there is in the entire body of social criticism still no more than a handful of meditations on the promise and failings of democracy in America to rival William Edward Burghardt Du Bois’s extraordinary collection of fourteen essays.”
— David Levering Lewis, from the introduction
The Souls of Black Folk Listener Reviews
-
" One of the best books I have read. It was slow going, but I could not put it down. Du Bois' English is alive! He delivers his message well. Definitely a re-read down the road. "
— Robert, 2/19/2014 -
" These essays written from the black person's view of the post civil war black experience were well written and interesting to read. How far have we come? "
— Patricia, 2/18/2014 -
" Still relevant after all these crazy years. "
— Nathan, 2/13/2014 -
" I might have never read this book if it weren't for my African-American history class, but i am so glad i got to read it. i'd have to say it is up there with some of my favorite reads. "
— Laurie, 2/13/2014 -
" It was a lot quicker and smoother of a read than I'd thought. It was very interesting to travel to the past to a small town. It felt like I was there, like it wasn't so long ago. I think keeping a perspective of the economic effects to blacks at that time is very useful in thinking about racism in general and in examining our present conditions. "
— Christina, 2/4/2014 -
" A classic work... worth reading at any time--but reading it right now, at this moment in history--is an amazing experience. "
— Patrick, 2/2/2014 -
" good historical read, i like how each chapter opened with a verse of song. "
— Jessica, 2/1/2014 -
" A fantastic and thoughtful selection of essays on the moral and intellectual issues surrounding African Americans in American society. Although they were written in 1903 these essays still have something to say to readers today. While much has changed since they were written, are race relations what they should be? These essays address the past, present, and the future. "
— Dayna, 1/26/2014 -
" They don't articulate like they used to, eh? Debate and discourse is "not only sane, but the imperative duty of the black men." "
— TeacherMrLoria, 1/25/2014 -
" Read a long time ago, but W.E.B. Dubois is a worthy read anytime...he is timeless. "
— Msbongi, 1/22/2014 -
" I read this book because it was a requirement my freshman year of college. The first time I read it, I did not and could not appreciate what it meant. This book is an interesting read if you are willing to pay attention. It is not a page turner but I did gain quite a bit of knowledge and motivation. "
— Jasmine, 1/19/2014
About W. E. B. Du Bois
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868–1963) was a sociologist, historian, novelist, activist, and one of the greatest African American intellectuals. His astounding career spanned the nation’s history from Reconstruction to the civil rights movement. Born in Massachusetts and educated at Fisk, Harvard, and the University of Berlin, he penned his epochal masterpiece, The Souls of Black Folk, in 1903. It remains his most studied and popular work; its insights into black life at the turn of the century still ring true.
About Mirron Willis
Mirron Willis—actor of film, stage, and television—is the winner of the prestigious Audie Award for best narration in 2012 and a finalist for the Audie in 2015, as well as the winner of four AudioFile Earphones Awards for his audiobook recordings. He has worked extensively in film and television and on stage with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Houston Shakespeare Festival, and the Ensemble Theatre, among others. He has recorded some 150 audiobooks, including the Smokey Dalton series by Kris Nelscott and My Song by Harry Belafonte. He resides and records audiobooks on his family’s historic ranch in East Texas.