W.E.B. Dubois narrates "The Souls of Black Folks" consistently repeats the symbol of the veil throughout this collection of essays. I believe that this veil is representative of racism and what it means to be black. "shut out from their world by a vast veil. I had thereafter no desire to tear down that veil, to creep through; I held all beyond it in common contempt, and lived above it in a region of blue sky and great wandering shadows" I think that the veil is racism and being black. He can not take off this veil either physically, this is before the time of Michael Jackson, or symbolically, since this is deep in the south during the antebellum period where blacks were still regarded as laves.
Dubois then details all of the problems that the African Americans face. He talks about the KKKlan and other sources of oppression. He later talks about B.T.Washington, who we just read "Up From Slavery". He describes him as "The most striking thing in history of the American Negro".
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I also agree that the veil is an important metaphor for racism and black oppression. I think Dubois feels that it is his responsibility to stand up and revolt against whites. This is the complete opposite of Booker T. Washington btw. Also why do you think Dubois refers to Washington as the most striking thing in history of the American nergo? Perhaps he feels that washington's idea of getting whites back is ineffective and a waste of time. He definately believes Washington stands out, but obviously does not agree with his arguements.
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