Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil (Dover Literature: African American)

If you don't know, Dr. Du Bois is the greatest social scientist of all time. In this book, Du Bois emerges as a fearless truthteller while remaining erudite in his observations. Du Bois is also simultaneously a poet, as several of his poems are embedded in this work. Much of his cogent analysis remains highly relevant and proves even to be prophetic.One of the highlights of this book is that Dr. Du Bois writes the companion essay to The Souls of Black Folk. There is an essay in here called The Souls of White Folk. It is an absolutely devastating analysis of Eurocentric culture and worldview. He connects the development of whiteness in social relations to race riots and the world war. He readily admits the faults of people of color worldwide, but speaks to the arrogance and superiority embedded in European imperialism. It is because of this essay that you can really begin to understand the depths of human depravity and greed which led to both world wars and wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.The other highlight of this book is how clearly Dr. Du Bois speaks as a liberation theologian. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but his rendering of Jesus Christ is genius and touching. Parts of this book are the reason another scholar (Edward Blum) wrote a book about Dr. Du Bois referring to him as an American Prophet. He is prophetic in theology, racial justice, gender justice, education and in his expansive vision for labor, love, and beauty.

This book addresses global issues, immigration policy, womens rights, civil rights, and the nature of European colonizaton of Africa. Du Bois connects the dots that tie the East St. Louis riots, the brutal treatment of african labor by european colonists, the low wages of domestic african american workers and women in america, and the shortage of european migration/workers because of the "great war". This is a first hand account of history by an African American that differs from past accounts of the above mentioned events in history texts, the movies, and the majority press.Darkwater is an easy read that educates. This is history not written as history by the author but as a comment on the events of his time that have significance to what is occuring in the world today.I found the book very enjoyable and enlightening. I witheld one star from the rating because the poetry, although good, seemed be tossed in as a filler.

Excellent purchase. Thank you

The 5 stars are for the Author. A brilliant man. A book that needs to be read today. He provides solutions to the issues and problems facing the world today. It’s beyond blackness. World survival is the question.....

Good

Please do not miss reading this insightful view of African Americans from a brilliant writer.It was the first time a Black man wrote about the status of Blacks in this country and thewriting is not even 100 yrs. old. What does that tell us about our race relations whenAfrican Americans were brought here hundreds of years ago to serve whites.!!!!

This book is definitely one for culturally diverse people, it's still relevant today as are the situations and conditions. W.E.B. DuBois is a prolific writer. He definitely masters the art of story-telling, the book has a sense of humor, his memory recall is engaging and empowering. I would recommend this book.

Very deep. A treasure, a true classic. I learn something new each time I read it.

I found it very interesting and a good read