W.E.B. Du Bois: “I grew more broadly human, made my closest and most holy friendships, and studied human beings.”

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?

Hear my cry, O God the Reader; vouchsafe that this my book fall not still-born into the world wilderness.

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

Around us the history of the land has centred for thrice a hundred years; out of the nation’s heart we have called all that was best to throttle and subdue all that was worst; fire and blood, prayer and sacrifice, have billowed over this…