Political Quotes

W.E.B. Du Bois: Why, if the Soul can fling the Dust aside, And naked on the Air of Heaven ride, Were’t not a Shame—were’t not a Shame…

On the record
Why, if the Soul can fling the Dust aside, And naked on the Air of Heaven ride, Were’t not a Shame—were’t not a Shame for him In this clay carcase crippled to abide?
Said by
W.E.B. Du Bois

Editor's note · Context

Du Bois poetically reflects on the soul's desire for freedom and transcendence beyond physical limitations.

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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…

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