Classic Book Reader
Cover of The Negro

The Negro

by W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963)

  • Free to read
  • 4 hours to read
  • 37 chapters
  • Reading level: 10th to 12th grade

"The Negro" by W. E. B. Du Bois is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The work examines the history, culture, and contributions of African peoples, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of one-sixth of the human race often overlooked by history. The book is structured in thematic chapters focusing on different aspects of African heritage, from its origins to the impact of colonization and the slave trade. At the start of "The Negro," the author presents critical insights into the misconceptions surrounding African history and emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of African cultures. Du Bois introduces the complexities of Africa as a continent rich in diversity and history, challenging prevailing racial prejudices. He discusses the varied factors contributing to the formation of African societies, touching on aspects such as geography, ancient civilizations, and the migrations that shaped the continent's population. Through an assertive tone, Du Bois lays the groundwork for a nuanced exploration of African identity, culture, and its significant role in global history.

Read free now No app, no sign-up. Your place is saved automatically. Or download for your e-reader ↓
  • Black race
  • Africa · History

Read the opening

The Negro

W.E.B. Du Bois

New York: Holt, 1915

[Transcriber's Notes for e-book versions:

Hyphenation and accentuation are inconsistent, but are generally left as found in the edition used for transcription. This edition may or may not have completely replicated the 1915 edition of the book. Where changes have been made, they are noted below. If you are using this book for research, please verify any spelling or punctuation with another source.

A missing quotation mark was inserted at the beginning of this paragraph: "It is difficult to imagine that Egypt should have obtained it from Europe where the oldest find (in Hallstadt) cannot be of an earlier period than 800 B.C., or from Asia, where iron is not known before 1000 B.C., and where, in the times of Ashur Nazir Pal, it was still used concurrently with bronze, while iron beads have been only recently discovered by Messrs. G.A. Wainwright and Bushe Fox in a predynastic grave, and where a piece of this metal, possibly a tool, was found in the masonry of the great pyramid."]

Keep reading The Negro →

Contents

Show all 37 chapters
  1. The Negro
  2. Preface
  3. Miller
  4. II the Coming of Black Men
  5. Footnotes
  6. III Ethiopia and Egypt
  7. Footnotes
  8. IV the Niger and Islam
  9. V Guinea and Congo
  10. Footnotes
  11. VI the Great Lakes and Zymbabwe
  12. Footnotes
  13. VII the War of Races at Land's End
  14. VIII African Culture
  15. Footnotes
  16. IX the Trade in Men
  17. Footnotes
  18. X the West Indies and Latin America
  19. Footnotes
  20. XI the Negro in the United States
  21. Footnotes
  22. XII the Negro Problems
  23. Footnotes
  24. Suggestions for Further Reading
  25. The Physiography of Africa
  26. Early Movements of the Negro Race
  27. Negro in Ethiopia and Egypt
  28. Abyssinia
  29. The Negro on the Guinea Coast
  30. The Congo Valley
  31. The Negro in the Region of the Great Lakes
  32. The Negro in South Africa
  33. On Negro Civilization
  34. The Slave Trade
  35. The West Indies and South America
  36. The Negro in the United States
  37. The Future of the Negro Race

Download for your e-reader

Files are provided by Project Gutenberg. On a Kindle, the simplest route is to send the EPUB with Amazon’s Send to Kindle. Downloaded copies don’t sync with your place on Classic Book Reader.

About this edition

This free edition of The Negro by W. E. B. Du Bois comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #15359, released 2005-03-14. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: History - Other, History - Ancient, History - Modern (1750+), Archaeology & Anthropology.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

More by W. E. B. Du Bois