Book Report: Darkwater

Book Report: Darkwater

Summary

Darkwater: Voices from within the Veil by WEB Du Bois is a highly critiqued but significantly informative manuscript on racism and America’s slow acceptance of diversity. Du Bois published this book in 1920. The book contains essays, spirituals, and poems that reflect on his ideas as a historian, artist, politician, and religious believer. The book inspires Americans to participate in economic, political, and social reforms for the minority in the country. From the book, one can discern Du Bois’ passion, pain and anger towards the discrimination of African Americans.

The book begins with Du Bois’ credo, where he states his belief in God, and the ‘Negro’ race. The credo asserts his belief in similarities among whites, blacks, and browns, as he understands that there is no difference in their intellect of biology. He states that he has confidence in the pride of race, lineage and self, humility and hard work in service, and the devil and his angels who strive to stomp on Black, underprivileged men.

Du Bois shows discontent in the way democracy was viewed especially among black and brown Americans. In his book, Du Bois exhibits longing for the eternal freedom from discrimination of all races. He explains his lineage and laments on how difficult it was for his family, especially his mother, to get wages and cater for her family. This challenge was only due to her skin color. Moreover, Du Bois laments over the toil and prejudice African Americans faced in every aspect of their lives. After completing high school, Du Bois had dreamt of attending Harvard but was discouraged. Not only was he denied a scholarship, but his family also swayed him into attending a school in the South, where his people (blacks) resided. Darkwater: Voices from within the Veil also heavily describes the cruelty, barbarism, and murder that African Americans endure.

Concepts from Marx

Karl Marx was a philosopher largely known for his radical views on capitalism and communism. His theories are concepts are heavily applicable to Du Bois’ book as he reflects on the essence of individual thoughts in society. Marx states that personal perceptions are determined by their material and economic conditions in which they live out. He believes that human thoughts and feelings are commanded by his interactions. Du Bois’ book shows personal relevance as he was bitter about African American discrimination in America, solely because he was brought up in a society that drew a line between races. Du Bois explains that he was brought up partially in New York, and noticed the distaste whites had for his color. He states that although he was a lively boy in his early years, his friends looked at his physical appearance with wonder. He says “my brown face and frizzled hair must have seemed strange to them” (Du Bois, 11). The author had been raised by a brown woman who instilled in him the notion that he was perfect. Only later did the man start to see his differences from his peers. Therefore, Marx’s theory, although it speaks primarily of work and the economy, proves that society shapes one’s notions and views. Therefore, Du Bois’ book shows the essence of personal conceptions in inspiring change.

Moreover, Marx uses individual freedom to explain the merits of capitalism. He states that capitalism is based on freedom. He states that workers are free to find jobs and quit from them. Also, entrepreneurs are free to open and close businesses (Class notes, 40). Marx uses this theory to show that capitalism birthed the freedom of expression in liberalized nations such as the U.S. The book Darkwater: Voices from within the Veil if published in other nations or states that are communist would bring numerous conflicts because it questions the core of American dispositions. However, due to the presence of a capitalist culture, Du Bois can raise his concerns on racism and a one-sided democracy without fear of retribution. He speaks on white supremacy where whites considered themselves as super-human and scoffed at African American frailty (Du Bois, 42). Marx explains that individuals are made up on the way they express themselves. Du Bois’ courage in writing about such a sensitive matter gives light to his conscious being. According to Marx, Du Bois’ personal experiences and thoughts distinguish him from other human beings. Nonetheless, the book voices the thought of all discriminated ethnic groups in America.

Concepts from Durkheim

Durkheim focuses on societies and social groups. Similar to Marx, he believes that societies shape individual actions. Therefore, Du Bois’ book shows both his pain and the pain of the black society. His book maintains social relevance as it considers the desperation of black and brown families in their quest to fit in. It also reveals the ugliness of society where whites considered Africans as intellectually lesser beings.” I speak and I speak bitterly of a servant and a servant’s son…” (Du Bois, 109). These words are uttered in his book where whites claim that African Americans are incapable of being ladies, doctors, and lawyers. Besides, Du Bois’ work shows mechanical solidarity, the feelings of likeness, as he explains the struggles of his origin story. His book would therefore, resonate in many African Americans, thus encouraging them to speak up against injustices.

The book also holds cultural relevance since it depicts a change in gender issues. In his seventh chapter, the damnation of women, Du Bois acknowledges their labor at home, work, and in the church. Darkwater: Voices from within the Veil shows a shift in gender conceptions. His reverence of women and their vital role in economic, political, social, and religious matters changed people’s beliefs from the traditional to modern roles of women. This shift could be explained by Durkheim’s theory of evolution of societies, where homogenous societies become increasingly complex and diverse due to population growth (Class notes, 87).

Concepts from Weber

From Du Bois’ manuscript, one can easily derive that he is a religious man. In his book, he often refers to God. The author laments on the challenges of a black man in his poem, a litany of Atlanta. Here, Du Bois states “our faces dark with doubt are made a mockery in Thy Sanctuary” (25). He does this to show the pain that African Americans endure in the hands of whites, even though they are without guilt. Du Bois’ poem is in form of a prayer, to ask for God’s guidance.

According to Weber, religion is a system of meaning that plays a role in the explanation of the existence of suffering. Moreover, he states that solely using economic and class dynamics in society does not cover the complex aspects of social relations (Class notes, 146). Therefore, Du Bois’ allusion to religion signifies historical beliefs that made up societies. In the past, Americans were more religious, and arguably, religion and spirituality played a role in the reduction of racism. With religion comes morality and consciousness. The book’s historical relevance is also notable where Du Bois states that a person’s soul could only be considered as great if it was a white man’s. This misconception was believed to be true as white men not only held political and economic superiority, but also in religion.

In conclusion, Du Bois’ manuscript played a major role in reducing racism. Although the vice is still evident in society today, authors like Du Bois worked in creating conversations on ethical and moral demerits of racism. Moreover, his book holds significant relevance in personal, cultural, historical, and social notions of race.

Works Cited

WEB Du Bois. Darkwater: Voices from within the Veil. South Carolina, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018