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 salvation, and at times has even seemed about to make them ashamed of themselves.
Du Bois here reflects on the profound and detrimental psychological and social effects of the internal conflict caused by "double aims" on Black Americans.
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