I emerged into full manhood, with the ruins of some ideals about me, but with others planted above the stars; scarred and a bit grim, but hugging to my soul the divine gift of laughter and withal determined, even unto stubbornness, to fight the good fight.
Du Bois describes his emergence into adulthood, marked by both loss and determination.
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Many of the worst characteristics of the Negro masses of to-day had their seed in this period of the slave’s ethical growth.
This waste of double aims, this seeking to satisfy two unreconciled ideals, has wrought sad havoc with the courage and faith and deeds of ten thousand thousand people,—has sent them often wooing false gods and invoking false means of…
Alas, with the years all this fine contempt began to fade; for the words I longed for, and all their dazzling opportunities, were theirs, not mine.
Away with the black man’s ballot, by force or fraud,—and behold the suicide of a race!