Children Learn More From What You Are Than What You Teach

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“Children learn more from what you are than what you teach.” – W.E.B. Du Bois

William Edward Burghardt “W.E.B.” Du Bois (1868 – 1963) was an African-American sociologist, writer, and activist who played a significant role to the advancement of racial equality during the first half of the 20th century. He is one of the co-founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which works to eliminate race-based discrimination.

Du Bois got his master of arts and his doctorate in history from Harvard, making him the first African-American to earn a Ph.D from the renowned university. After pursuing graduate studies in history and economics at the University of Berlin, he served for 2 years at Wilberforce University as professor of Greek and Latin. He spent a significant portion of his life in academics and studying about the conditions of African people in various parts of the world.

As a racial activist, he used his influence, skills, and reputation as an academic scholar to raise awareness of slavery and racial discrimination. His prolific writing career started on the publication of his book “The Philadelphia Negro,” which is a study of an urban black community. He wrote essays and articles to voice his political opinions and beliefs which are generally about providing better education to African- American students to develop more black intellectuals in the community.

Du Bois was renowned for his politically charged writings but he was an educator at heart and even created a children’s magazine named “The Brownies” to educate colored people of their own culture and history.