The Social Condition

Du Bois speaks about the social condition of the African Americans, recognizing that although the condition is deplorable, and is due in large to the history of their existence, "the color prejudice is not the sole cause of their social condition" (Du Bois, 152). He notes that in the social condition of the African Americans, they are discouraged in two particular ways. The first he states that "by proscription and prejudice, these same Negroes are classed with and treated like the lowest of their people, simply because they are Negroes, such policy... discourages thrift and intelligence" (Du Bois, 152). Therefore, education is the first means by which the social condition of African Americans were degraded. The second means mentioned by Du Bois is correlated witht he lack of education. Du Bois states that because of this lack of education, "it puts a direct premiumon the very things you complain of, - innefficiency and crime" (Du Bois, 152). Thus ignorance leads to crime, and the only way to alleviate this crime is by educating those performing the deeds. It is interesting to note how related the two issues are, and yet how the means of fixing this problem seem to be so obvious. Du Bois Notices that the white South and African Americans "both act as a reciprocal cause and effect, and a change in neither alone will bring the desired effect. Both must change, or neither can improve to any great extent" (Du Bois, 153).