Reading response on “From: The Souls of Black Folk” by W.E.B DuBois Q: What does Apples of Hesperides mean? A: Hercules’s eleventh labor. Eurystheus commanded Hercules to bring him golden apples which belonged to Zeus. In short, after a lot of effort to retrieve the golden apples guarded by a hundred-headed dragon (Ladon) it was returned by Athena, making Hercules’s efforts worthless. (This can be compared to the slavery of black people, and that the “retrieval of the apples” could not even set them free). This is what I understand and conclude from the reading: DuBois focuses on the city of Atlanta and talks about the dedication of the young black students at Atlanta University. He is against the trend that only industrial education is sufficient for black people. Although some African Americans do excel in, and are better at learning technical skills and trades, others can thrive in elite institutions and become scholars. He argues that traditional higher education encourages moral values that the South needs. He thinks that the only hope for racial progress is through teaching truth and reason, which will lead to moral righteousness. During slavery, black people were treated as workers and nothing more, prohibited from learning how to read and write; and DuBois thinks it would be a shame if this trend continued. When black people are given the chance to apply in even the most challenging educational environments, they have shown their ability and commitment. He concludes that this is a matter of moral urgency, that higher education opportunities must be available to young black people. I agree with DuBois because I do not believe that a person should be denied the opportunity to study or learn based on their skin color. The decision on what to do and what not to do should be in the hands of the person themselves. Sources:
View Full Document
Unlocking...