Even in her humble station, she had, when occasion required it, an air of command which conferred a degree of dignity and gave her an ascendancy over those of her rank, which is very unusual in persons of any rank or color.
Du Bois notes the inherent dignity and authority that Black women can possess despite societal constraints.
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More from W.E.B. Du Bois
Three things characterized this religion of the slave,—the Preacher, the Music, and the Frenzy.
Away back in the days of bondage they thought to see in one divine event the end of all doubt and disappointment; few men ever worshipped Freedom with half such unquestioning faith as did the American Negro for two centuries.
A million black men started with renewed zeal to vote themselves into the kingdom.
With other black boys the strife was not so fiercely sunny: their youth shrunk into tasteless sycophancy, or into silent hatred of the pale world about them and mocking distrust of everything white; or wasted itself in a bitter cry, Why…