W.E.B. Du Bois was the first African American to earn a PhD from Harvard University. He faced little racial discrimination growing up but faced greater challenges as he pursued higher education, becoming the first African American valedictorian of his high school and earning advanced degrees from Fisk University, Harvard, and the University of Berlin. Du Bois emphasized the importance of developing talented African American leaders through education to guide social progress. In his study The Philadelphia Negro, Du Bois sought to prove that social conditions rather than race caused negative perceptions of African Americans. He stressed the impact of teachers and education in empowering African Americans and promoting better race relations.

1. Educational Giant -W.E.B. Du BoisBy Lora Eden

2. Humble BeginningsBorn in Barrington, Massachusetts in 1868Parents Alfred and Mary Burghardt Du BoisFather left when youngEncouraged and provided with:ClothingFoodMoney for schoolExperienced minimal racial discrimination

3. Education:Excellent studentGraduated valedictorian, first African-American to do so from his school.Universities:Fisk – Undergraduate DegreeHarvard – Undergraduate, Master’s and Doctorate DegreesUniversity of Berlin in Germany – Post-Master’s Studies

4. Quotes:“The problem of the Twentieth century is the problem of the color line.”Line in journal: “these are my plans: to make a name in science, to make a name in art and thus to raise my race.”“The problem of education, then, among Negroes must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth; it is the problem of developing the Best of this race, that they may guide the Mass away from contamination and death of the Worst, in their own and other races…. The best and most capable of their youth must be schooled in the colleges and universities of the land…. All men cannot go to college but some men must.” – The Talented Tenth

5. The Philadelphia NegroStudy with a goal to prove that it was a lack of knowledge, rather than race itself, which had contributed to the negative perceptions of the African-Americans.Combined history in Philadelphia, class structure, education, occupations, family life, health care, voluntary associations, criminality, and interaction with whites.

6. The Philadelphia Negro, Cont’dDu Bois emphasized the overall impact of aforementioned social conditions, rather than “inherited factors,” as many other scientists has postulated.

7. Effect on TeachingEmphasized importance of having high-quality teachers leading the rest of society (The Talented Tenth)Better to have a few exceptional men and women to “lift them up, [or] they will pull you down.”Establishment of the NAACP, which came from Niagra Movement

8. Personal EffectDedication to excellence as a teacher; will teach students necessary tools for success and how to use intellectBetter race-relationsEmphasis on worth of a teacher and appreciation of profession