Thirdly, the settlers of many of these colonies were of sterner moral fibre than the Southern cavaliers and adventurers, and, in the absence of great counteracting motives, were more easily led to oppose the institution and the trade.
Du Bois contrasts the moral character of settlers in different colonies, suggesting a stronger opposition to slavery among certain groups.
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He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world.
But they should not keep these prizes, I said; some, all, I would wrest from them.
The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife,—this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self.
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…