W. E. B. Du Bois's seminal work, The Souls of Black Folk, not only
captures the experience of African Americans in the years following the
Civil War but also speaks to contemporary conditions. At a time when
American public schools are increasingly re-segregating, are
increasingly underfunded, and are perhaps nearly as separate and unequal
as they were in earlier decades, this classic can help readers grasp
links between a slavery past and a dismal present for too many young
people of color. Disagreeing with Booker T. Washington, Du Bois analyzes
the restrictiveness of education as a simple tool to prepare for work in
pursuit of wealth (a trend still very much alive and well, especially in
schools serving economically disadvantaged students). He also, however,
demonstrates the challenges racism presents to individuals who embrace
education as a tool for liberation. Du Bois's accounts of how racism
affected specific individuals allow readers to see philosophical issues
in human terms. It can also help them think deeply about what kind of
moral, social, educational and economic changes are necessary to provide
all of America's young people the equal opportunity promised to them
inside and outside of schools.
Perfect for courses in: Social Foundations of Education, Political
and Social Foundations of Education, Foundations of American Education,
Foundations of Education, Introduction to Education Theory and Policy,
Philosophy and Education, History of American Education, and African
American Education.