W. E. B Dubois Veil

Introduction

This response paper seeks to address the following questions related to the book Souls of Black Folk written by W.E.B. DuBois in 1903. The author DuBois evaluates social, political, and economic issues which encapsulate the Civil War and the Freedmen's Bureau's role in Reconstruction. Important assertions made included the concept of the veil of race, which lead to “double-consciousness.” This also draws from the psychological, sociological and philosophical matters of dualism.

Response Questions:

1. What is the veil from a DuBois perspective?

2. What was DuBois trying to explain by introducing this concept?

3. Who do you think was the intended audience for this discussion?

4. To whom was he trying to explain these terms?

5. Can you think of examples today (or in the past few years) where the concept of the veil might be useful?

What is the veil from a DuBois perspective?

According, to DuBois the veil was defined from three points of view. Firstly, veil proposes to the darker skin of Blacks which defines a physical delineation of from whiteness. Secondly, white people lack the clarity and humanity to see Blacks as “True” Americans.

Lastly, Blacks lacks the clarity to see themselves outside of what ‘White America’ describes and prescribes for them (Virginiaedu, 2017). As a result, they develop a double-consciousness complexity.
What was DuBois trying to explain by introducing this concept?
In explaining assertion of the veil, he then adopts double-consciousness. According to DuBois “The Negro is sort of second son, born with a veil, and gifted with second-sight in this American world, - a world which yields him no true self-consciousness.” And results in “sense of always look at one’s self through the eyes of others.” (Dubois, p 3). The subsequent behavior is that we portray dueling identities depending on the social setting. That we display different behaviors in different social situations based on who we are interacting with (Black vs. White). We might have done this behavior adjustment to fit in and to be recognized and accepted.
Who do you think was the intended audience for this discussion?
This was intended for all audiences, it seeks to give both an introspective and collective perspective on race relation issues; this in essence is a two way street to aid both black’s and white’s to become aware of this veil and double-consciousness, so that we can achieve collective self-actualization. It’s a part of human nature to view things through different color lens. However, its necessity to understand each other’s internal conflict as it relates cultural, racial, and gender differences. In compiling his thoughts he is trying to education the public based on his observations.
To substantiate my claim Dubois stated “That the present social separation and acute race-sensitiveness must eventually yield to the influences of culture, as South grows civilized, is clear.

But such transformation calls for singular wisdom and patience. If while the healing of this vast sore is progressing, the races are to live for many years side by side, untied in economic effort, obeying common government, sensitive to mutual thought and feeling, yet subtly and silently separate in many matters of deeper human intimacy,—if this unusual and dangerous development is to progress amid peace and order, mutual respect and growing intelligence, it will call for social surgery at once the delicatest and nicest in modern history. It will demand broad-minded, upright men, both black and white” (Dubois

p77).
To whom was he trying to explain these terms?
I believe he was trying to explain these terms to the blacks. Because he recognized this social and internal conflict that was facing the African-American community. By explaining his observations, he was aiding in the efforts to try to reconcile and recognizes one’s true being to become more self-aware; amidst the internal confusion and conflict. But, at the same time he was trying to educate the public.
Can you think of examples today (or in the past few years) where the concept of the veil might be useful?
I believe that the concept of standardized testing in school, is a form of social and educational barrier that in some cases stratifies the educational system and working society, wherein standardized testing seek to caterer to the intelligence of those who fit the script and therefore disregards those who have different intelligence based on psychologist Howard Gardener theory of multiple intelligence. Standardized testing is not a one sock fits all scenario.