Du Bois, W: Sociological Souls of Black Folk

The Souls of Black Folk is W.E.B. Du Bois' most famous work. While the work is often viewed as a classic in African American literature and the history of the African American experience, the sociological significance of the work has been understated. In his initial discussions with the book's original publisher, Du Bois desired to prepare a volume that would showcase his ongoing sociological work on "the Negro problems." While many editions of Du Bois' classic text have appeared, no edition has focused primarily on the eight previously published essays in their original form and chronological order. This fact alone makes The Sociological Souls of Black Folk unique. An introductory essay by the volume's editor, Robert Wortham, highlights the sociological significance of the original essays by addressing such themes as the concept of the self, the social construction of the African American experience, and racial inequality. Eight additional essays originally published between 1897 and 1900 are added by the editor in a second section. These additional sociological essays focus on African American entrepreneurship, crime, race relations, liberal arts education, the Black Church's function within the African American community, and the quality of African American life in the Southern Black Belt. The essays included in The Sociological Souls of Black Folk provide the reader with an opportunity to gain a greater appreciation for Du Bois' early sociological work and recognize that Du Bois was indeed one of the pioneering figures in the development of sociology in the United States.

The Sociological Souls of Black Folk is a collection of sixteen sociological essays published by W.E.B. Du Bois between 1897 and 1902. The first eight essays included in the volume provided the foundation for The Souls of Black Folk, and collectively these sixteen essays showcase the work of one of the pioneering figures in the development of American sociology.

Chapter 1 The Sociological Souls of Black Folk: Editor's IntroductionPart 2 Part I: The Sociological Souls of Black FolkChapter 3 Chapter 1. Strivings of the Negro PeopleChapter 4 Chapter 2. A Negro Schoolmaster in the New SouthChapter 5 Chapter 3. The Religion of the American NegroChapter 6 Chapter 4. The Freedman's BureauChapter 7 Chapter 5. The Negro as He Really IsChapter 8 Chapter 6. The Evolution of Negro LeadershipChapter 9 Chapter 7. The Relation of the Negroes to the Whites in the SouthChapter 10 Chapter 8. The Training of Black MenPart 11 Part II: Contextual Sociological Essays: 1897-1900Chapter 12 Chapter 9. The Negro in Business: The Results of the InvestigationChapter 13 Chapter 10. The Negro and CrimeChapter 14 Chapter 11. The American Negro in ParisChapter 15 Chapter 12. The Conservation of the RacesChapter 16 Chapter 13.Careers Open to College-Bred NegroesChapter 17 Chapter 14. The Problem of AmusementChapter 18 Chapter 15. The Negro in the Black Belt: Some Social SketchesChapter 19 Chapter 16. The Georgia Negro: A Social Study - Editor's Reconstruction