W. E. B. Du Bois's seminal treatise on the African American experience The problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color line. W. E. B. Du Bois was arguably the most progressive African American leader of the early twentieth century, and this collection of essays is his masterpiece. An examination of the black experience in America following emancipation, and an introduction to the historic concept of "double-consciousness" as it pertains to that experience, The Souls of Black Folk is an extraordinary literary achievement—a provocative, profound, and courageous clarion call. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.