Du Bois on Cultural Pluralism

Abstract

W. E. B. Du Bois's idea of the role race plays in the general progress of humankind is outlined & defended. Du Bois's conception of race is argued to be historical & cultural, rather than biological, allowing him to construe civilization advances as the result of the collective cultural contributions of multiple races within a single society. Du Bois's theory of progress is defended against economic determinism, which could undermine the possibility of racial harmony. His notion of the "Talented Tenth" in every race was designed to ensure that whatever cultural contribution a race might make would be moral & beneficial for the larger civilization. Du Bois observed that the greatest threat to this vision of racially driven progress is the propensity of the Talented Tenth to be corrupted by capitalist social orders. H. von Rautenfeld