August Book Club 

The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois

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Before you read:

- Du Bois is commonly known for the ideological disagreements between himself and Booker T. Washington, a fellow Black intellectual of his era. These ideological differences are referenced in this book, but if you would like some context and background information about their relationship and disagreements, this article was helpful to me: "The Great Debate: Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B. Du Bois"

- As explained in the infographic above, Du Bois was a founder of the NAACP, and served as the Director of Publicity for its magazine, The Crisis. This magazine still runs today! Check it out here.

Guiding Questions:

Here are some questions to consider while you read The Souls of Black Folk:

- In The Souls of Black Folks, W.E.B. DuBois writes: “One ever feels his two-ness,—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings” (11).

• Make a list of some of your identities.
• Would you describe your identity as divided or unified? In conflict or in harmony?  Do you ever feel that other people fail to understand/see who you are, because of one aspect of your identity? 

-“Between me and the other world there is ever an unasked question … How does it feel to be a problem?” (9).  What does Du Bois mean by the "other world" here, and what does its "unasked question" mean to him? (Columbia Common Core)

- What will you take with you from your reading of The Souls of Black Folk? Will you continue to consider the issues that are explored? How has this historical text influenced your perception of modern issues, protest, and definitions of progress?

If you want to take it a step further and really engage with the content, use these questions as journal prompts! You can also just write about whatever comments or thoughts you have as you read :)

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At this link, you can see questions and reviews for the book, and engage in community discussion. If you want to track your reading progress this year, make a Goodreads account and start by adding this book to your list!

Find a library near you and check out this book to get started. Happy reading!