While studying the writings of Eric Foner, the author of "American Freedom" and one of his many quoted sources Nancy Cott, author of "The Grounding of Modern Feminism" readers are led to believe W.E.B. Dubois was an advocate supporter of the abolishment of women's suffrage. Cott believes Dubois advised Black women to rally along-side White women for the right to vote and equality amongst genders. While attempting to research Cott's source, the Crises Magazine, I was unable to find supporting material in my limited amount of time. But neither Mrs. Cott's sincerity nor her sources do I question. I do believe Dubois advised Black women to support the women's movement. However, Both Foner and Cott eliminates Dubois' main ambition and sole adherence to advising the support of African American women - Dubois believes their support will create a strong foundation to emancipate blacks in their struggle for freedom, justice, and equality as reflected in the following quote, "The White people of Philadelphia are perfectly conscious that their Negro citizens are not treated fairly in all respects...Social
Eric Foner photographed September 2009.
The Souls of Black Folk title page. By W.E.B. DuBo...
DuBois, Pennsylvaniareforms move slowly and yet when Right is reinforced by calm but persistent Progress we somehow all feel that in the end it must triumph."
J. Allen 2
In two of WE B Dubois' books, "The Philadelphia Negro" and "The Soul of Black Folks," after a brief read through, no mention of the betterment of women neither White nor Black is mentioned. "...The Negro would have to accept white leadership, and that such leadership could not always be trusted to guide this group into self-realization and to its highest cultural possibilities," states Dubois in the "Niagra Movement." Historian William Toll, author of The Resurgence of Race: Black Social Theory from Reconstruction to Pan-African Conferences, believes Dubois called for black writers...