What I'm Reading Today

I'm currently taking a class on W.E.B. DuBois whose most famous work, Souls of Black Folk, I've always admired.  I didn't realize that he wrote some fiction and other works that could actually be seen as more important than Souls of Black Folk.  This week we are reading Darkwater, which is available on Project Gutenberg if you are interested in reading it.

DuBois is a master of creating a multi-genre text, which I think gives a lot of interesting texture to his work. Darkwater includes autobiographical, prayer, and poetic elements.  I've really just started the book and have only made it through the first few chapters, but already, his authenticity shines through the writing and makes for a compelling read.  He talks about his family, childhood and his ambitions and goals, which ultimately leads to a serious discussion of the history of race, labor, and whiteness in American history.  Dubois is not afraid to call a spade a spade, and I'm sure this has something to do with the fact that you hear about this book far less than you hear about Souls of Black Folk.  It is subversive in the sense that it calls exploitation and racism by their names rather than using euphemisms or offering apologies for why such inequality exists in U.S. society.

If you are interested in reading something that draws you in immediately and offers an apt historical accounting of early 20th century social conditions in the U.S. through the lens of a fascinating autobiography, I highly recommend reading this.  DuBois is a passionate and clear writer who looks into the depth of our society from the human soul to the history of exploitation of our people.  DuBois also edited a journal called "The Crisis", which I've been learning more about and you can read more about if you are interested: