The Wounded World: W. E. B. Du Bois and the History of WWI | Chad L. Williams || Radcliffe Institute | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The story explores the challenges faced by African-Americans during World War I, as seen through the lens of WEB Du Bois, and highlights the importance of understanding the war's impact on race and democracy.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] - Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here. Thank you, Judy, the master of the art of introductions. You make us all sound so good and accomplished. It's quite remarkable. Also quickly would like to thank Dean Lizabeth Cohen-- I think Liz is there-- for your leadership of the Radcliffe Institute. The entire fellowship prog... Read More

Key Insights

• 🙂 The discovery of Du Bois's unpublished manuscript sheds light on the challenges faced by African-Americans during World War I and offers a new perspective on the war's impact on race and democracy.
• 🥺 Du Bois's support for the war initially stemmed from a belief that it would lead to the emancipation of the Negro race, but he later became disillusioned as he witnessed the mistreatment of black servicemen.
• 🇺🇸 The mistreatment and discrimination faced by black soldiers in the United States Army highlight the deep-rooted racial inequality that persisted during the war.
• 🫱 Du Bois's failure to finish and publish his book reflects the personal struggles he faced in understanding the war and its significance, as well as the tragedy of the war itself.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why was Du Bois intrigued by the unpublished manuscript on the black experience in World War I?

Du Bois was intrigued because he had set out to research African-American soldiers in the war, and discovering an unpublished manuscript by Du Bois himself added a new level of significance to his research.

Q: How did Du Bois initially view the war and its impact on African-Americans?

Du Bois saw the war as an opportunity for African-Americans to claim their citizenship and fight for democracy. He believed that the two ideals of being black and being American could finally be reconciled.

Q: How did Du Bois's support for the war change over time?

Du Bois became disillusioned with the war as he witnessed the mistreatment and discrimination faced by black servicemen. He questioned the war's purpose and its effects on race relations and deemed it a failure.

Q: Why did Du Bois fail to finish and publish his book on the black experience in World War I?

Du Bois faced personal and intellectual challenges in completing the book. He struggled to make sense of the war and its impact, and his own disillusionment hindered his ability to bring the project to completion.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A graduate student discovers an unpublished manuscript by WEB Du Bois on the black experience in World War I, sparking a fascination with the story behind the book.

• Du Bois's support for the war and subsequent disillusionment are discussed, as well as the mistreatment of black soldiers in the racially segregated United States Army.

• Du Bois's attempt to write a comprehensive history of the black experience in the war goes unfinished, ultimately reflecting his own personal struggles and the tragedy of the war itself.