W. E. B. Du Bois's groundbreaking social study of black Americans living in Philadelphia at the end of the 1800s remains an outstanding and thorough example of sociology.
Using knowledge gained from research of black neighborhoods during his time at the University of Pennsylvania, Du Bois was determined to create an all-embracing profile of urban black American society. Some three years of intensive research, interviews, and statistical gathering went into The Philadelphia Negro; it revealed endemic social prejudices and the abject poverty which many black Americans endured. The area studied was the Seventh Ward - a borough of Philadelphia which included the impoverished black ghetto, the striving middle-classes, and even affluent whites.
For Du Bois, the root causes of the social divide were ingrained negative perceptions towards black Americans, such as the notion that black workers are innately dishonest or indolent. Incidents of racial discrimination, whereby blacks in a line of business or seeking employ are turned aside on the basis of skin color, are numerous. More positively, the author unearthed multiple appraisals from those who had employed black workers - some only as a last resort - who became very impressed at their employee's diligence, ability and passion.
Spanning the education, recreation, work, housing and environment conditions, and much more besides, The Philadelphia Negro remains a landmark text of sociology.
W. E. B. Du Bois's groundbreaking social study of black Americans living in Philadelphia at the end of the 1800s remains an outstanding and thorough example of sociology.
Using knowledge gained from research of black neighborhoods during his time at the University of Pennsylvania, Du Bois was determined to create an all-embracing profile of urban black American society. Some three years of intensive research, interviews, and statistical gathering went into The Philadelphia Negro; it revealed endemic social prejudices and the abject poverty which many black Americans endured. The area studied was the Seventh Ward - a borough of Philadelphia which included the impoverished black ghetto, the striving middle-classes, and even affluent whites.
For Du Bois, the root causes of the social divide were ingrained negative perceptions towards black Americans, such as the notion that black workers are innately dishonest or indolent. Incidents of racial discrimination, whereby blacks in a line of business or seeking employ are turned aside on the basis of skin color, are numerous. More positively, the author unearthed multiple appraisals from those who had employed black workers - some only as a last resort - who became very impressed at their employee's diligence, ability and passion.
Spanning the education, recreation, work, housing and environment conditions, and much more besides, The Philadelphia Negro remains a landmark text of sociology.
First published in 1896, The Suppression of the African Slave Trade remains the standard work on the efforts made in the United States, from 1638 to 1870, to limit and suppress the trade in slaves between Africa and America. In the foreword to this new edition, John Hope Franklin, James B. Duke Professor of History Emeritus, and professor of legal history at Duke University, explains the attitude toward slavery at the time Du Bois wrote his book, gives a brief background of Du Bois's growth as an educator and writer, and examines the methods Du Bois used to write the book. Those doing work on th subject of American slavery will find this volume an important source book.