W. E. B. Du Bois 1/3 #11

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was an African American civil rights leader.  He was born post civil war in Boston.  Although he was and continues to be a well respected, many of his views did not follow the mainstream civil rights movement.  The African American civil rights movement has always been center around the church, with many of the top civil rights leader being preacher or ministers.  However, Du Bois is believed to be an atheist.  He labeled himself an agnostic, or freethinker, and disassociated with organized religion while attending Fisk College, Nashville, TN.  Pre-WWII, Du Bois visited Nazi-Germany, but he had mixed feelings about it.  He said he was treated with respect and the Nazis had improved Germany’s economy, but the treatment of the Jewish population was horrifying.  He also connected with communism and saw it as means to end racism.  He traveled the world, including Russia and China, and was celebrated for his works, but it caused him trouble with the American Government, including confiscating his passport.  With the struggle of racism, adding a connection with some of the most detested political parties, Du Bios maintained his determination to see everyone with equal rights.