W.E.B. Du Bois: “It must represent, not simply governments, but civilization, science, commerce, social reform, religious philanthropy…”

So wofully unorganized is sociological knowledge that the meaning of progress, the meaning of “swift” and “slow” in human doing, and the limits of human perfectability, are veiled, unanswered sphinxes on the shores of science.

Would America have been America without her Negro people?

So long as the world stands meekly dumb before such questions, shall this nation proclaim its ignorance and unhallowed prejudices by denying freedom of opportunity to those who brought the Sorrow Songs to the Seats of the Mighty?

Our song, our toil, our cheer, and warning have been given to this nation in blood-brotherhood.