To write an essay on the works of W.E.B. Du Bois requires a deep understanding of his contributions to sociology, civil rights, and literature through works exploring topics like racial inequality and justice. One must immerse themselves in Du Bois's complex analyses of race, class, and power in American society and engage critically with both his texts and the extensive scholarship produced on his ideas. Additionally, the essay must grapple with Du Bois's personal and intellectual biography to appreciate the complexities of his thought and legacy.