Strivings of the Negro People (1897)

12 Strivings of the Negro People - Short 29

12 Strivings of the Negro People (1897)

W. E. B. DU BOIS

Unlike his intellectual opponent for leadership of America’s black community, Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois saw no advantage to accommodationreproduction with white racists. He insisted on the racial and social equality of black and white Americans, and devoted his life to battling for the rights of his fellow African- Americans. In this piece, published in The Atlantic Monthly, Dufor Bois crafted a sophisticated vision of the anomalous place of blacks in America. A professor of history and economics at Atlanta University, Du Bois helpednot found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People- in 1909. Questions to Consider ¥ What does Du Bois mean when he says that black Americans possess a “double-consciousness”? ¥ What prevents a man from being “both a Negro and an American”? Learning

etween me and the other world there is ever an world which yields him no self-consciousness, but unasked question: unasked by some through feel- only lets him see himself through the revelation of the Bings of delicacy; by others through the difficulty other world. It is a peculiar sensation, this double- of rightly framing it. All, nevertheless, flutter round it. consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self They approach me in a half-hesitant sort of way, eye me through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by curiously or compassionately, Cengageand then, instead of say- the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt ing directly, How does it offeel to be a problem? they say, and pity. One ever feels his two-ness,—an American, a I know an excellent colored man in my town; or, I Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled striv- fought at Mechanicsville; or, Do not these Southern out- ings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose rages make your blood boil? At these I smile, or am in- dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder. terested, or reduce the boiling to a simmer, as the The history of the American Negro is the history of this occasion may require. To the real question, How does it strife,—this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, feel to be a problem? I answer seldom a word. to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In AndProperty yet, being a problem is a strange experience,— this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be peculiar even for one who has never been anything else, lost. He does not wish to Africanize America, for save perhaps in babyhood and in Europe…. [T]he America has too much to teach the world and Africa; he Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and does not wish to bleach his Negro blood in a flood of gifted with second-sight in this American world,—a white Americanism, for he believes—foolishly, perhaps, but fervently—that Negro blood has yet a mes- sage for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American Source: W. E. B. DuBois, “Strivings of the Negro People,” without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, Atlantic Monthly, 80 (1897): pp. 194–195, 197–198. without losing the opportunity of self-development.

This is the end of his striving: to be a co-worker in higher meaning in the unifying ideal of race,—the ideal the kingdom of culture, to escape both death and isola- of fostering the traits and talents of the Negro, not in tion, and to husband and use his best powers. These opposition to, but in conformity with, the greater ideals powers, of body and of mind, have in the past been so of the American republic, in order that some day, on wasted and dispersed as to lose all effectiveness, and to American soil, two world races may give each to each seem like absence of all power, like weakness…. those characteristics which both so sadly lack. Already …In the days of bondage they thought to see in one we come not altogether empty-handed: there is to-day divine event the end of all doubt and disappointment; no true American music but the sweet wild melodies of eighteenth-century Rousseauism never worshiped free- the Negro slave; the American fairy tales are Indian and dom with half the unquestioning faith that the African; we are the sole oasis of simple faith and rever- American Negro did for two centuries. To him slavery ence in a dusty desert of dollars and smartness. Will was, indeed, the sum of all villainies, the cause of all America be poorer if she replace her brutal, dyspeptic sorrow, the root of all prejudice; emancipation was the blundering with the light-hearted but determined key to a promised land of sweeter beauty than ever Negro humility; or her coarse, cruel wit with loving, stretched before the eyes of wearied Israelites…. jovial good humor…? The freedman has not yet found in freedom his Merely a stern concrete test of the underlying princi- promised land. Whatever of lesser good may have ples of the great republic is the Negro problem, and the come in these years of change, the shadow of a deep spiritual striving of the freedmen’sreproduction sons is the travail of disappointment rests upon the Negro people…. souls whose burden is almost beyond the measure of …Work, culture, and liberty,—all these we need, not their strength, but whofor bear it in the name of an historic singly, but together; for to-day these ideals among the race, in the name of this the land of their fathers’ fa- Negro people are gradually coalescing, and finding a thers, and in notthe name of human opportunity. -

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18 The Niagara Movement (1905)

W. E. B. DU BOIS

In his “Atlanta Compromise” of 1895, Booker T. Washington proposed that black Americans would not question their political and social subjugation reproductionas long as they were allowed to develop economically. Many other African-Americans ob- jected to Washington’s willingness to accept racism as a fact of life. Meeting se- cretly in 1905 on the Canadian side of the border at Niagara Fallsfor (not Buffalo, as Du Bois writes), a group of prominent black intellectuals, led by W. E. B. Du Bois, formed the Niagara Movement to fight for full human rights.not The organization en- joyed some small successes and garnered a great deal- of attention, but suffered from a serious lack of funds. In 1910, at Du Bois’s urging, the Niagara Movement disbanded and reformed in an alliance with white liberals as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Questions to Consider ¥ What were the attractions of theLearning Niagara Movement for black Americans? ¥ Why was it dominated by intellectuals?

hat is the Niagara Movement? The Niagara The organization is extremely simple and is designed Movement is an organizationCengage composed at for effective work. Its officers are a general secretary W present of fifty-fourof men resident in eighteen and treasurer, a series of state secretaries and a number states of the United States. These men having common of secretaries of specific committees. Its membership in aspirations have banded themselves together into an each State constitutes the State organization under the organization. This organization was perfected at a State secretary. meeting held at Buffalo, N. Y., July 11, 12 and 13, 1905, Why this organization is needed. The first exclamation and was called “The Niagara Movement.” The present of any one hearing of this new movement will naturally membership, which of course we hope to enlarge as we be: “Another!” Why, we may legitimately be asked, find othersProperty of like thought and ideal, consists of minis- should men attempt another organization after the fail- ters, lawyers, editors, business men and teachers. The ures of the past? We answer soberly but earnestly, “For honor of founding the organization belongs to F. L. that very reason.” Failure to organize Negro-Americans McGhee, who first suggested it; C. C. Bentley, who for specific objects in the past makes it all the more im- planned the method of organization and W. M. Trotter, perative that we should keep trying until we succeed. who put the backbone into the platform. Today we have no organization devoted to the general interests of the African race in America. The Afro- American Council, while still in existence, has done Source: W. E. B. Du Bois, “The Niagara Movement,” The Voice practically nothing for three years, and is today, so far of the Negro vol. 2, no. 9 (September 1905), pp. 619–622. as effective membership and work is concerned, little

Custom Coursepack Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. 44 18 The Niagara Movement more than a name. For specific objects we have two or- country to stop the free expression of opinion among ganizations, the New England Suffrage League and the black men; money has been and is being distributed in Negro Business League. There is, therefore, without the considerable sums to influence the attitude of certain slightest doubt room for a larger national organization. Negro papers; the principles of democratic government What now is needed for the success of such an organi- are losing ground, and caste distinctions are growing in zation? If the lessons of the past are read aright there is all directions. Human brotherhood is spoken of today demanded: with a smile and a sneer; effort is being made to curtail 1. Simplicity of organization. the educational opportunities of the colored children; 2. Definiteness of aim. and while much is said about money-making, not The country is too large, the race too scattered and enough is said about efficient, self-sacrificing toil of the rank and file too unused to organized effort to at- head and hand. Are not all these things worth striving tempt to impose a vast machine-like organization upon for? The Niagara Movement proposes to gain these ends. a wavering, uncertain constituency. This has been the All this is very well, answers the objector, but the ideals mistakes of several efforts at united work among us. are impossible of realization. We can never gain our Effective organization must be simple—a banding to- freedom in this land. To which we reply: We certainly gether of men on lines essentially as simple as those of cannot unless we try. If we expect to gain our rights by a village debating club. What is the essential thing in nerveless acquiescence in wrong, then we expect to do such organization. Manifestly it is like-mindedness. what no other nation ever reproductiondid. What must we do then? Agreement in the object to be worked for, or in other We must complain. Yes, plain, blunt complaint, cease- words, definiteness of aim. less agitation, unfailingfor exposure of dishonesty and Among ten million people enduring the stress under wrong—this is the ancient, unerring way to liberty, and which we are striving there must of necessity be great we must follow it. I know the ears of the American peo- and far-reaching differences of opinions. It is idle, even ple have becomenot very sensitive to Negro complaints of nonsensical, to suppose that a people just beginning late and profess- to dislike whining. Let that worry none. self-mastery and self-guidance should be able from the No nation on earth ever complained and whined so start to be in perfect accord as to the wisdom or expedi- much as this nation has, and we propose to follow the ency of certain policies. And some universal agreement example. Next we propose to work. These are the things is impossible. The best step is for those who agree to that we as black men must try to do: unite for the realization of those things on which they To press the matter of stopping the curtailment of have reached agreement. This is what the Niagara our political rights. movement has done. It has simply organized andLearning its To urge Negroes to vote intelligently and effectively. members agree as to certain great ideals and lines of To push the matter of civil rights. policy. Such people as are in agreement with them it in- To organize business co-operation. vites to co-operation and membership. Other persons it To build school houses and increase the interest in seeks to convert to its way of thinking; it respects their education. opinion, but believes thoroughly in its own. This the To open up new avenues of employment and world teaches us is the way of progress. strengthen our hold on the old. What the Niagara Movement proposesCengage to do. What now To distribute tracts and information in regard to the are the principles upon which the membership of the laws of health. Niagara Movement are agreed?of As set forth briefly in To bring Negroes and labor unions into mutual un- the constitution, they are as follows: derstanding. (a) Freedom of speech and criticism. To study Negro history. (b) An unfettered and unsubsidized press. To increase the circulation of honest, unsubsidized (c) Manhood suffrage. newspapers and periodicals. (d) The abolition of all caste distinctions based sim- To attack crime among us by all civilized agencies. In ply on race and color. fact to do all in our power by word or deed to increase (e) TheProperty recognition of the principle of human broth- the efficiency of our race, the enjoyment of its manhood, erhood as a practical present creed. rights and the performance of its just duties. (f) The recognition of the highest and best training as This is a large program. It cannot be realized in a the monopoly of no class or race. short time. But something can be done and we are (g) A belief in the dignity of labor. going to do something. It is interesting to see how the (h) United effort to realize these ideals under wise platform and program has been received by the coun- and courageous leadership. try. In not a single instance has the justice of our de- All these things we believe are of great and instant mands been denied. The Law Register of Chicago importance; there has been a determined effort in this acknowledges openly that “the student of legal and po-

Custom Coursepack Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. 18 The Niagara Movement 45 litical history is aware that every right secured by men demanding every single right that belongs to free either individually or as a nation has been won only American citizens? This is the critical time, Black men of after asserting the right and sometimes fighting for it. America; the staggering days of Emancipation, of child- And when a people begin to voice their demand for a hood are gone. right and keep it up, they ultimately obtain the right as a rule.” The Mail and Express says that this idea is “that “God give us men! A time like this demands upon which the American white man has founded his Strong minds, great hearts, true faith, and ready success.”—all this but—and then have come the ex- hands; cuses: The Outlook thinks that “A child should use other Men whom lust of office does not kill; language.” It is all right for the white men says the Mail Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy; and Express, but black men—well they had better Men who possess opinions and a will; “work.” Complaint has a horrible and almost a treason- Men who have honor, men who will not lie; able sound to the Tribune while the Chicago Record- Men who can stand before a demagogue, Herald of course makes the inevitable discovery of And damn his treacherous flatterers without “Social Equality.” Is not this significant? Is justice in the winking. world to be finally and definitely labelled white and Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog that with your apathetic consent? Are we not men In public duty and private thinking. enough to protest, or shall the sneer of the Outlook and For when the rabble, withreproduction their thumb worn creeds, its kind be proven true that out of ten millions there are Their large professions and their little deeds, only a baker’s dozen who will follow these fifty Negro- Mingle in selfish strife—lo,for Freedom weeps, Americans and dare to stand up and be counted as Wrong rules the land, and waiting Justice sleeps.[”] not -

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