The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois is a book that shows a clear and colorful picture of the African-American social life in the United States of America. Being written at the beginning of the 20th century, the book has a rich literary language and depicts the history of sociology with the help of bright metaphors and real-life stories of the people. The main concept which unites the collection of essays into one solid document is the idea of “the Veil.” Du Bois uses this concept to describe the experience of all those African-Americans whose life is determined by the external white perspective. Living behind “the Veil”, the African-Americans have developed a double consciousness: they are aware of the fact that some general social rules are not applicable to them. In such a way, “the Veil” plays a crucial role in the life of African-Americans, as it influences every aspect of their existence.
The metaphor of “the Veil” appears in the very first chapter of the book. According to Du Bois, African-Americans are “born with a veil, and gifted with second-sight in this American world” (5), and this world only lets them see themselves “through the revelation of the other world” (5). In other words, the people are looking at themselves through the eyes of others who have no idea of what it is like to be an African-American. This is where the state of double consciousness comes from. These people know that their social, economic, political, and even cultural opportunities are different from those of white people, and this difference is disappointing. As “the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color line” (Du Bois 3), the only advantage of African-Americans is that they completely realize this problem, whereas white people mostly enjoy the benefits of ignorance. Being a blessing and a curse, “the Veil” appears in details.
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"The Souls of Black Folk: Reading Response Essay".
While talking about “the Veil,” Du Bois provides the readers with numerous examples from his own experience. The essay titled “Of the Meaning of Progress” starts with the description of Du Bois’ experience as a teacher in Tennessee. First, he is studying at the Teachers’ Institute – “white teachers in the morning, Negroes at night” (Du Bois 31). After graduating from the institute, the narrator starts to look for a place in local schools. Finally, when Du Bois finds school, the white commissioner seems pleasant and friendly as he asks the narrator to stay to dinner. Even then, however, the narrator feels “the awful shadow of the Veil, for they ate first, then I — alone” (Du Bois 32). Also, this shadow is obvious when it goes to the description of the classrooms. This specific example is very eloquent because it shows that “the Veil” between African-Americans and white people, and an isolation of the first ones, remains in small details.
Du Bois returns to the town in ten years only to find out that the process of industrialization and progress does not provide the local people with opportunities. The author calls his community an isolated world whose common consciousness comes from “a common hardship in poverty, poor land, and low wages” and “from the sight of the Veil that hung between us and Opportunity” (Du Bois 34). On the other hand, he argues against the “undeniable advantages” of industrialization as it turns into an obsession with wealth both for whites and African-Americans. There are social groups of people described in the book to whom the issues of slavery and war were the events from the distant past. Still, “the Veil” is present in their lives, and they are forced to fight against the “barriers of caste, of youth, of life” (Du Bois 34). The combined description of the history of Atlanta and the everyday life of all African-Americans underlines both differences and similarities in the progress of the world on both sides of “the Veil”.
“The Veil” may seem to be invisible, but only from one side. It covers the problems of ideals, religion, poverty, and order from those who are on the white side. The issues of self-realization, education, culture, and progress are important to the representatives of African-American community, but they are visible only to them as well. “The worlds within and without the Veil of Color are changing, and changing rapidly, but not at the same rate, not in the same way” (Du Bois 95). While speaking about the issues of religion, education, or social life, Du Bois follows the path of development – the things are constantly changing. The only thing that remains stable is “the Veil” itself. The author uses this term in various contexts, and it suits there perfectly.
The concept of “the Veil” appeared to be so important that it has become a part of the whole American history and sociology. The population is separated, and this separation leads to inequality and oppression. Being a significant aspect of every sphere of life of African-Americans, “the Vail” constructs their view on human existence within “the Veil” and also outside of it. Therefore, it is not a curse only. The idea of “the Veil” helps to recognize and re-evaluate experience which is not available for the white people of America. As long as African-Americans exist, so does “the Veil”. The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois helps the readers to create a new point of view on the issue of racial relationships inside of the American community.
- Du Bois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014.
