DuBois -- "I'll do it"

`Jacki Procter
English 48B
Journal #5
Feb. 15, 2009

Quote:

“If I should have the drive to seek/ Knowledge of chemistry or Greek/ I’ll do it”

Summary:

If DuBois wants to educate himself that’s just what he’ll do.

Response:

While I understand Washington’s stance and rationale I also understand DuBois advocating for civil and political rights. He won't compromise his right promised in the Constitution. He wants to keep the concept of blacks seeking “higher ideals and aspirations” alive instead of being squashed down in order to pacify the white mans fear. He doesn’t think the race should bow down because “all men are created equal” and he, or any black man, has the right to an education just like the white man. He promoted hope and the idea that blacks have the right to dream and aspire to anything, just like the white man. He was a brave man to speak out especially when he moved to Atlanta! He lived to be almost 100 -- five years shy anyway. What an amazing life he lived – speaking out for civil and political rights for blacks. He had a lot of heart and courage. He is truly a hero for the “Human Race!”

I don’t however, particularly recall hearing about DuBois in school – elementary-high school, which is not uncommon because black history has only recently become mainstream -- educationally speaking (public school -- is it or has it been taught in private school?) and I’m glad to finally learn about him now, during Black History Month. I am humbled and ashamed of what white people subjected blacks to. It seems like white people should do something to acknowledge that it was wrong -- especially during Black History Month. I went to D.C. last Christmas and did the evening tour of the Memorials, and maybe I missed it, but there isn’t anything to memorialize the tragedy of Blacks is there? I mean there is the Lincoln memorial – He freed the slaves but there should be more. Like a bronze replica of the black man lynched and burned with his legs burned off and his fingers cut off because he was trying to climb the hot chain around his neck as he tried to escape the flames.