DuBois and Black Nationalism Essay -- essays research papers

DuBois and Black Nationalism The Epigraph:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"The colored people are coming to face the fact quite calmly that most white Americans do not like them, and are planning neither for their survival, nor their definite future†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  W.E.B. DuBois â€Å"A Negro Nation within the Nation† The Premise:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Black Nationalism is a pragmatic solution for the success and survival of the oppressed African Americans. The Argument: Black Nationalism is defined by Karenga, as the political belief and practice of African Americans as a distinct people with a distinct historical personality who politically should develop structures to define, defend, and develop the interests of Blacks as a people. Black Nationalism can be traced back to the 18th century, back to William Edward Burghardt DuBois, the most prominent black intellectual of all time. Black Nationalism is the response of African Americans to the continual racism and oppression they experience. It came about because of two reasons; the racism that they faced daily, and being exploited economically by white supremacy. Black Nationalism seeks a solution to the problems that African Americans face on a daily basis. After the Civil War, the situation of the black people was not good; it was a semi-free, semi-slave situation. An example of this is tenancy, where the Blacks have control of the work process and work schedule but ultimately had to give up the fruits...