Vast Veil

W.E.B Du Bois casts a literary veil over his words in order to promote the congruency between the topic and his style of writing. Du Bois compels the reader with such phrases as, "he would not bleach his soul in a flood of white Americanism" (5); Du Bois clearly feels some form of prejudice towards the white Americans. When I read "Of Our Spiritual Strivings" the image of a new being becoming revealed from under a veil constantly raced through my head. Du Bois brings up the fact that the role of the black man during that time (in America)was to integrate two identities at the same time: one who is seen through the eyes of everyone else and the other who is created through their own "Africanism". Du Bois clearly does not want to seem completely opposed to the white culture in America; instead, he wants to make it known that African-Americans merely want to be able to have their own identity, whilst keeping "white-american" culture ever-present. At the same time, in order to bring about this new identity in which the black man bring out his/her own better and truer soul, one must be able to promote the education of that man. I found that the most interesting revelation in Du Bois' essay was the mentioning of the Negro as being the "seventh son"; it is almost too direct and straightforward to mention, but Du Boise clearly understands that African-Americans themselves realize that they are being watched at all times: for being different. I thought Du Boise's account was incredibly upfront and without regret. Du Boise's character and personal creedence shines throughout the entire essay. At the same time Du Boise understands that freedom may never be achieved. Does anyone else get this pessimistic approach out of his work?