Overview

W. E. B. Du Bois was one of the great African American intellectuals of the early twentieth century. He was a prominent civil rights leader, sociologist, historian, educator, author of several works of fiction, and one of the founding figures of Pan-Africanism. Du Bois's works are filled with allusions to the classical mythology, philosophy, and history that permeated his education. In the first book-length discussion of the topic, David Withun examines the influence of classical authors on Du Bois's thoughts about education, the arts, government, and society. The influence of classical philosophy, particularly that of Plato and Cicero, is apparent in some of Du Bois's most distinctive ideas, such as the concept of the Talented Tenth, his opposition to Booker T. Washington's industrial education, and in his support of propaganda through art.Withun also explores Du Bois's critique of the classical tradition in his responses to modern racism and colonialism. While Du Bois adopted a number of ideas from the classical tradition, he also used them to critique what he saw as a tradition gone awry. Alongside Du Bois's critique of the classical tradition, he also exhibited an increasing interest in the history--ancient and modern--of Africa and Asia. In his attempts to combat modern prejudice, Du Bois appealed to the long traditions of thought of peoples outside of Europe, in several instances pioneering the research of non-European history. Withun argues that Du Bois's absorption of the classical tradition and simultaneous appreciation of the history of Africa and Asia culminated in a modern cosmopolitanism, one that calls for a more inclusive appreciation of global culture.

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9780197579589

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Withun's book is the first to focus solely on Du Bois's classicisms, but is one of a growing number to shine a spotlight on Du Bois in the context of African American classical reception, including Eric Ashley Hairston's The Ebony Column (2013) and Margaret Malamud's African Americans and the Classics (2016). * Samuel Agbamu, Times Literary Supplement * Withun explains how he conceptualized racism as a modern phenomenon, citing ancient historians as evidence that racism had not been a problem in antiquity, allowing him to simultaneously locate Black people as both the 'foundation' and 'future' of civilization. * Greece & Rome * This book contributes to the greater understanding of Du Bois's intellectual journey and commitment to the classics despite the challenges he experienced in his long life. * Chris Butynskyi, author of The Inklings, the Victorians, and the Moderns: Reconciling Tradition in the Modern Age *

"""Withun's book is the first to focus solely on Du Bois's classicisms, but is one of a growing number to shine a spotlight on Du Bois in the context of African American classical reception, including Eric Ashley Hairston's The Ebony Column (2013) and Margaret Malamud's African Americans and the Classics (2016)."" -- Samuel Agbamu, Times Literary Supplement"

Author Information

David Withun is an educator and historian whose research focuses on topics in historical and contemporary education, the influence of ancient myth and thought in modern literature and philosophy, and the accessibility of the liberal arts for all. He is the founding Head of School at Jacksonville Classical Academy in Jacksonville, Florida.

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