A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : W.E.B. DuBois Yale University, Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition DuBois, who later helped to found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), advanced the idea of the "Talented Tenth" in his book The Negro Problem, which was published in 1903. After reading the DuBois document have students write what they think The Talented Tenth is, and then discuss it as a class. Ask students what the importance of education is to them. How significant is it in their lives? After they have read sections from the DuBois The Talented Tenth discuss his concept of African American education in the early 20th century and how it has changed in 100 years. Give a lecture on WEB DuBois including a picture and biographical information. Ask students how his background affected his writing? Have students pick another document from the same time period, such as The Act to Prohibit the co-education of White and Colored Races, within the same website. They should read the document then compare its contents to that of WEB DuBois in the form of a presentation or paper.

W.E.B. DuBois
Yale University: Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition

Description: DuBois, who later helped to found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), advanced the idea of the "Talented Tenth" in his book The Negro Problem, which was published in 1903.

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestions

After reading the DuBois document have students write what they think The Talented Tenth is, and then discuss it as a class.
Ask students what the importance of education is to them. How significant is it in their lives? After they have read sections from the DuBois The Talented Tenth discuss his concept of African American education in the early 20th century and how it has changed in 100 years.

Suggestions for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Give a lecture on WEB DuBois including a picture and biographical information. Ask students how his background affected his writing?
Have students pick another document from the same time period, such as The Act to Prohibit the co-education of White and Colored Races, within the same website. They should read the document then compare its contents to that of WEB DuBois in the form of a presentation or paper.