William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868-1963), played by Bill Grimmette, was a sociologist, author, historian, and a prominent Civil Rights activist of the early twentieth century. Born on February 23, 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois grew up in an integrated community thanks to the presence of a small, but influential free black population. Du Bois attended Fisk University, a historically black college in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1885 to 1888. After graduating from Fisk, duboisDu Bois attended and obtained two additional degrees from Harvard University – a bachelor’s in history and a Ph.D. in sociology, making him the first African American to obtain a doctorate degree from the University. In the early twentieth century, Du Bois emerged as one of the unofficial spokespersons for African Americans. In 1910, Du Bois was a co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, where he took the position of Director of Publicity and Research and served as editor of the monthly magazine, The Crisis. Du Bois used his platform to speak out against various issues, including the failure to integrate civil and non-civil service positions, a campaign promise of President Woodrow Wilson. By the mid-twentieth century, Du Bois became a dedicated Pan-Africanist and anti-war activist. On August 27, 1963 at the age of ninety-five, W.E.B. Du Bois died in Accra, Ghana. He was survived by his second wife, Shirley Graham, his daughter, Yolande Cullen, and his stepson, David Graham Du Bois.
Broadcast In: English Duration: 0:57:45