Question 1

The Talented Tenth was the intellectual group Du Bois joined when he traveled through Europe.

Accepted Answer

The Talented Tenth was actually a term coined by Du Bois himself to describe the group of educated African Americans who he believed had a responsibility to lead and uplift the black community. He did not join this group when he traveled through Europe, but rather developed the idea while working as a professor at Atlanta University in the early 1900s.

Question 2

Du Bois argues in The Souls of White Folk that while African Americans possess a double-consciousness, whites have
A)triple consciousness
B)false consciousness
C)no racial consciousness
D)extra-consciousness

Accepted Answer

The answer of Du Bois argues in The Souls of...

Question 3

Du Bois's work is exemplary in that it illuminates the intertwined structural and subjective causes and consequences of class, race, and racism.

Accepted Answer

Du Bois's work, particularly in "The Souls of Black Folk," discusses the complex ways in which race, class, and racism intersect and affect individuals and societies. He recognizes that individual experiences of racism are shaped by larger structural inequalities and power dynamics.

Question 4

In The Souls of White Folk, Du Bois argues that racism
A)is unconnected to European colonialism
B)is receding as whites' souls become more tolerant
C)in America is less oppressive than in other nations
D)America is oppressive in structure and practice

Accepted Answer

Du Bois argues in The Souls of White Folk that racism is oppressive in both structure and practice in America. He critiques the idea that racism is solely a matter of individual beliefs or attitudes, but rather is deeply embedded in the social, economic, and political systems of the country.

Question 5

Du Bois used a multidimensional approach to race and class.

Accepted Answer

Du Bois believed that race and class were intertwined and that a multidimensional approach was necessary to fully understand and address issues of inequality and oppression. He coined the term "double consciousness" to describe the experience of being both Black and American, and he worked to highlight the ways in which race and class intersected to shape the experiences of marginalized communities.

Question 6

Du Bois recognized that race does not work or exist solely at the rational level.

Accepted Answer

Du Bois believed that race is a social construct and is also a deeply ingrained emotional and psychological experience that goes beyond rationality.

Question 7

Du Bois systematically sets out the specific social consequences of prejudice and discrimination within The Philadelphia Negro.

Accepted Answer

Du Bois focuses extensively on the social consequences of prejudice and discrimination in The Philadelphia Negro, describing the ways in which they create economic, educational, and social barriers for African Americans in the city.

Question 8

The Souls of Black Folk solidified agreement in positions between Du Bois and Booker T. Washington.

Accepted Answer

The Souls of Black Folk was actually a critique of Booker T. Washington's approach to racial progress, and it solidified Du Bois' disagreement with Washington's accommodationist stance.

Question 9

The Philadelphia Negro is the first major sociological study of an African American community ever published in the United States.

Accepted Answer

The Philadelphia Negro, written by W.E.B. Du Bois and published in 1899, is considered the first major sociological study of an African American community in the United States.

Question 10

Du Bois was intensely critical of the Black church and thought it could/should do more for its people.

Accepted Answer

Du Bois believed that the Black church could and should do more to help address the social and economic issues facing Black communities. He saw it as a potential source of mobilization and activism, but was critical of what he saw as its limited vision and focus on personal salvation rather than collective liberation.

Question 11

Define Du Bois's concept of the Talented Tenth. Explain why you agree or disagree with this concept.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define Du Bois's concept of the Talented...

Question 12

Discuss the importance of Du Bois's term "colortocracy" as it pertains to sociological study.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the importance of Du Bois's term...

Question 13

Discuss how well you feel Du Bois's ideas have translated into contemporary times. Do you feel he could still write his works today and they would still be relevant? If so, how?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss how well you feel Du Bois's...

Question 14

The conclusion of The Philadelphia Negro squarely places the blame on the structure of white society for all the problems of the residents of the Seventh Ward.

Accepted Answer

While W.E.B. Du Bois' "The Philadelphia Negro" does critique the structure of white society for contributing to the problems faced by African Americans in the Seventh Ward, it also examines internal community issues, individual behaviors, and economic conditions, presenting a multifaceted analysis rather than placing the blame solely on white society.

Question 15

The veil represents the most pressing problem for the U.S. according to Du Bois.

Accepted Answer

Du Bois used the concept of the "veil" to describe the racial divide in America and the lack of understanding between blacks and whites, not as the most pressing problem but as a significant societal issue among others like economic and educational disparities.

Question 16

The Soul of White Folks proved Whites experience a double consciousness.

Accepted Answer

"The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois introduced the concept of double consciousness, focusing on the African American experience, not Whites.

Question 17

Which of Du Bois's work reverses the gaze of racial domination?
A)The Souls of Black Folk
B)The Souls of White Folk
C)The Philadelphia Negro
D)Phylon

Accepted Answer

"The Souls of White Folk" is the only work listed that reverses the gaze of racial domination. This collection of essays critiques and examines the white psyche and the ways in which white people perpetuate and benefit from racism. The other works primarily focus on analyzing and documenting the experiences and social conditions of Black people in America.

Question 18

Du Bois's work The Philadelphia Negro recognized both rational and nonrational factors.

Accepted Answer

Du Bois recognized both the social and economic factors that contributed to the conditions of African Americans in Philadelphia, as well as the impact of racism and discrimination on their everyday lives. He also acknowledged the importance of culture and spirituality in shaping the experiences and resilience of black communities.

Question 19

The Souls of White Folk differs from The Souls of Black Folk in that its tone can be considered more
A)sympathetic
B)militant
C)empirical
D)poetic

Accepted Answer

"The Souls of White Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois is known for its more militant tone, especially when compared to the more introspective and poetic tone of "The Souls of Black Folk." In "The Souls of White Folk," Du Bois critiques the imperialism and racial superiority attitudes prevalent among white people, adopting a more confrontational stance.

Question 20

The color line refers to the lines of poverty Du Bois studied in The Philadelphia Negro.

Accepted Answer

The color line refers to the racial divide and discrimination faced by Black Americans in various aspects of life such as education, housing, employment, and political representation. It was a central theme in Du Bois' writing and activism.

Quiz 7: Web Du Bois