DuBois - Communist?

[Umoja]

Perhaps someone is more knowing on the subject of W.E.B DuBois. I recently got the book "The Souls of Black Folk" by him, but haven't had a chance to read it. How involved was he with the American communist party? I've always thought his idea of the "talented tenth" sounded rather capitalistic.

[Hampton]

In 1961 he joined the Communist Party and, moving to Ghana, renounced his American citizenship more than a year later.

Talented 10th: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library...sp?document=174 (http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=174)

The Negro race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education, then, among Negroes must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth; it is the problem of developing the Best of this race that they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the Worst, in their own and other races.

Education and work are the levers to uplift a people. Work alone will not do it unless inspired by the right ideals and guided by intelligence. Education must not simply teach work — it must teach Life. The Talented Tenth of the Negro race must be made leaders of thought and missionaries of culture among their people. No others can do this work and Negro colleges must train men for it. The Negro race, like all other races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men.

Vanguard anyone?

[redstar2000]

I think that DuBois, like many who were educated at the beginning of the 20th century, was heavily (if not often explicitly) influenced by the pervasive "darwinian" racial "science" of that era.

Much was made then of the observation that the "best elements" of each "race" had fewer children than the "worst elements"...best and worst being measured in terms of financial success and familiarity with European culture.

In this climate, DuBois wished to "prove" that the black "race" had its own elite...and would have to develop it if black people were not to be permanently subjugated to the white "race".

This was in great contrast to other black leaders of that era...who accepted a subordinate position to whites.

Thus, by the standards of his era, DuBois's position was a "progressive" one. But it was not communist.

In fact, I doubt if DuBois was ever an "active" communist, and I suspect that his joining the Communist Party in the last years of his life was intended as a stinging slap in the face for the American (white) bourgeoisie.

If so, it was.

:cool:

[Umoja]

It can see where you are coming from Redstar, and I got a less... extreme perception as you.