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Chapter 14
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Souls of Black Folk, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Slavery vs. Freedom
Material vs. Psychological Racism
Education
Leadership
Exclusion vs. Belonging
Summary
Analysis
The Afterthought is only one paragraph long, and addresses the reader, asking that they hear his cry and that the book will not fall into the “wilderness.” Du Boishopes that “the ears of a guilty people [will] tingle with truth,” and that human reason will find a solution to the “mockery” of human unity and compassion. He concludes by noting that he hopes this is “not indeed the end.”
In this passage, Du Bois hints again that he is primarily addressing a white audience, and he hopes that learning more about the reality of black life will inspire them to effect change. Although Du Bois expresses faith in human reason, he also expresses uncertainty that reason will prevail.
Themes
Quiz
Test Yourself
